Vote Hillary, 2016

Deborah Kass’s Vote Hillary, 2016, is a bold and timely work that draws directly on the visual language of Pop art to engage with contemporary politics. Created in the context of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the print appropriates the aesthetic of Andy Warhol’s iconic Vote McGovern (1972), replacing Nixon’s portrait with emphatic, graphic text urging support for Hillary Clinton. Executed with Kass’s characteristic use of vibrant color and sharp contrast, the composition transforms a historical Pop reference into a direct call to action, bridging past and present political moments. The work reflects Kass’s longstanding practice of reinterpreting canonical imagery through a feminist and cultural lens, positioning herself in dialogue with Warhol while asserting a distinct, contemporary voice.

At once homage and critique, Vote Hillary underscores the enduring power of image-making in shaping political narratives. Kass strips away figuration in favor of text-driven immediacy, allowing the message itself to take center stage while still retaining the punch and clarity of Warhol’s original format. The work speaks to issues of representation, gender, and power, highlighting the historic significance of Clinton’s candidacy while acknowledging the persistent role of media and branding in electoral politics. In doing so, Kass not only revisits a pivotal moment in Pop art history but also reactivates it for a new generation, reinforcing the idea that art can function simultaneously as cultural commentary and political intervention.