I create political paintings of Trump and now I'm going to be painting live in Manchester
Manchester artist Michael Browne is bringing his distinctive blend of politics, history and religion to one of the city’s busiest locations this summer, with a new live window painting opposite the Beetham Tower and Hilton Hotel on Deansgate.
The site, which already houses Michael’s much-talked-about portrait of Donald Trump, is being transformed once again as Michael prepares to paint live in the window for the Manchester International Festival (MIF).
His new, as yet untitled, piece will sit alongside the Trump portrait and Michael's Sovereign Servant painting in the Great Northern Warehouse, Deansgate.
Michael said: “There’s a strong conceptual link between the paintings The Sovereign Servant includes the controversial Koh-i-Noor diamond, taken from India – a lasting symbol of imperialism. It’s about power, single minded ambition, possession, and theft."
Adding: "In my new painting, Trump, Musk and J D Vance are depicted seated in a cubicle in the fairground at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, which is generally occupied by The Laughing Clown. Atop the cubicle is a small cross, as if this is the new religion. The clown here is a disguised God-like figure laughing behind Trump. Beneath their feet is a landscape full of trodden grapes, whilst behind Elon Musk there's a dangerous biblical figure wielding a scythe, and facing J D Vance is the Catholic Theologian Saint Augustine."
Michael's Trump portrait has stopped countless Mancunians in their tracks and right across social media and the new painting, along with The Sovereign Servant, is already attracting a lot of attention in he Deansgate window.
The launch of the new live painting coincides with the Manchester International Festival which opens on July 4th. MIF's headline exhibition, Football Art, City United at Aviva Studios, features newly created artworks by 11 pairings of internationally renowned artists and footballers including the Manchester United legend Eric Cantona.
In 2023, Michael collaborated with Eric Cantona to co-curate the exhibition From Moss Side to Marseille at the National Football Museum. Eric Cantona recently visited GRIT Studios in The Great Northern, where Michael is based, to see his latest works in progress - including a new portrait of American marathon runner Kathrine Switzer, commissioned by Eric himself.
Michael said: "It's very difficult for me to get my works in institutions, or to get many of my paintings discussed in mainstream media because of the sensitivity of their content.”
Adding: “But, live painting in the city - especially during a cultural moment like MIF - opens up new conversations. That’s what art in public spaces is really about!”