Past Exhibitions

Antoni Muntadas and Marshall Reese: Political Advertisement X 1952–2020

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A tv mounted to a gallery wall displays a black and white image of a young girl holding a flower.

Political Advertisement X began 36 years ago, when New York–based media artists Antoni Muntadas and Marshall Reese produced their first compilation of American presidential commercials, beginning with Eisenhower in the 1950s.

Every four years since—aligned to the national election cycle—they’ve updated the collection to reflect the current moment, presenting the clips in chronological order, with no voice-over editorializing, a tour de force of witty and incisive editing. Consisting of rare as well as notorious footage, Political Advertisement X: 1952–2020 argues for television’s enormous importance in selling the presidency—a force that transforms citizens into consumers and the presidency into the ultimate product.

More about our fall exhibitions

Presented amid the most contested presidential election in American history and massive social upheaval surrounding the entwined public health issues of systemic racism and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wexner Center’s fall exhibitions showcased work from a diverse group of artists examining the tenets of American democracy, representative structures, and modes of political discourse. Discover more about the other exhibitions on view and related programs below.

A tv mounted to a gallery wall displays a black and white image of a young girl holding a flower.

Antoni Muntadas and Marshall Reese, Political Advertisement X: 1952–2020, 1984–2020.
SD video, 97 mins. Installation view at the Wexner Center for the Arts. Image courtesy of the artists.

Installation view of Political Advertisement X 1952-2020

Antoni Muntadas and Marshall Reese, Political Advertisement X: 1952–2020, 1984–2020.
SD video, 97 mins. Installation view at the Wexner Center for the Arts. Image courtesy of the artists.

Installation view of Political Advertisement X 1952-2020

Antoni Muntadas and Marshall Reese, Political Advertisement X: 1952–2020, 1984–2020.
SD video, 97 mins. Installation view at the Wexner Center for the Arts. Image courtesy of the artists.

Organized by the Wexner Center for the Arts and curated by Curator at Large Bill Horrigan.

MADE POSSIBLE BY
Greater Columbus Arts Council
American Electric Power Foundation
The Columbus Foundation
Ohio Arts Council
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Huntington Bank
Nationwide Foundation

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Kaufman Development
Cardinal Health Foundation

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Past Exhibitions

Antoni Muntadas and Marshall Reese: Political Advertisement X 1952–2020