I'm offended you're offended

Woa,

Artwork by Larry Anderson was recently vandalized. Anderson's artwork has dealt with religion, race, politics, gender, and sex. Everything that should not be said at the dinner table.

At Space One Eleven (a non-for-profit art gallery in Birmingham, Alabama), his past shows have included Where do Queers come from? and was part of the series Questions to the New South: Suspended in Conflict. In October 2010, he will have another curated show.

I think it comments heavily on the power of Anderson and what his artwork can evoke to the public. There is no telling the reaction with public art. If it is truly a good piece of work, someone is always offended.

http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/vandals-repeatedly-strike-artworks-565414.html

On that regard, here are some artists whose work has been the center of controversy and makes them way cool.

My favorite "Offensive" offenders
- no particular order

1. Chris Ofili, Virgin Mary
2. Tracey Enim, *any work really
3. Duchamp, Fountain
4. Andres Serrano, Piss Christ
5. Dash Snow, Hamster Cage
6. Manet, Olympia
7. Saatchi Gallery shows before 2008
8. Chapman Brothers Hell
9. Chris Burden, * any performance
10. Joseph Beuys and Matthew Barney, together 4eva




My three favorite public works of art are 1. Richard Serra's Tilted Arc, 2. Maya Lin's Vietnam Memorial and 3. Sol LeWitt's Black Form.