Pittsburgh artist creates scene with replica of President Trump head
Yes, that indeed is a 7-foot gold replica of President Donald Trump’s head one might see, strapped to the bed of a U-Haul pickup truck driving around Pittsburgh.
Arjen van Lith, a Dutch artist and writer living in Shadyside, designed and created the piece. It’s comprised of 3 millimeter coroplast, a corrugated plastic.
“As an immigrant, I am not allowed to vote,” said van Lith. “So, I decided to make my voice heard in a different way. As loud, as gaudy and trashy as possible.” He said he feels justified in launching the project because the entire world is invested in the political situation in the United States.
He has spent the past few days scouting possible sites in the city. On Saturday, he placed it near a dumpster in Bloomfield.He’s titled the head “Individual #1.”
The tour will continue through the streets of Pittsburgh’s 90 neighborhoods through at least Tuesday, Election Day.
Driving around is part of the adventure, van Lith said, because he wants as many people to see the artwork as possible. He and a photographer find a place, take a photo and watch the reaction of people. It will eventually be a series of images he can keep to document this time in U.S. history.
“The people in Pittsburgh who have seen it have been great,” he said. “Pittsburgh is a city that’s pretty open-minded.”
Van Lith, who has no formal art training, made the art in a friend’s garage, and created three smaller versions.
The 3D design is made of about 70 pieces. It’s not heavy, but it’s difficult to handle so he needs help transporting it. This is public art, he said. He considers it akin to graffiti, but portable.
He said he hopes this project becomes a conversation piece. With art, he said, the creator provides half the meaning — and the other half comes from the view of the participant.
“It’s a protest piece,” said van Lith, who moved to Pittsburgh from Texas in 2019. “People can take from that what they want. People should make up their own minds.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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