Arts & Culture

Jewcy Art: Rahm With Pancakes, Lox, And Bagels On His Head

By Margarita Korol / February 22, 2011

Jewcy loves trees! Please don't print!

Preparing for the graphic fanfare that the Chicago elections would bring in our coverage, I came across a fascinating artistic venture headquartered in Minnesota and catching art collectors’ eyes internationally via eBay. Forget Mary toast, say hello to Dan Lacey’s Rahm paintings.

Jewcy: Portrayed with lox, what is Rahm saying with his eyes?

Dan Lacey: ‘Come closer and let me share with you what is on my mind.’

J: When did you start putting pancakes and other breakfast foods on celebrities?

DL: My first pancake portrait was of John McCain and was inspired by the Oolong the pancake bunny meme. Before that I drew a webcomic called ‘Faithmouse’ and previous to that I operated an art studio in the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas and contributed role model portraits to a magazine called ‘Saludos Hispanos.’ I stopped drawing the cartoon following a loss of faith and began to paint again, posting paintings for sale on eBay and drawing inspiration from the internet. The pancake portraits represent created self-context and the absurdity of changeable and impermanent identity. The related Obama Nude On A Unicorn series is the carnalized Messiah-substitute superman.

J: What inspired you to take your brush to Rahm’s face?

DL: I did no such thing. It would have been rude and perhaps created unnecessary personal jeopardy to approach Rahm with a pointy stick in my hand.

J: Who’s buying these Rahms?

DL: Art collectors from Australia to Serbia. (Including this Toronto blogger who has her Rahm prominently framed.)

J: Do you think you’ll be inspired to paint more kosher gourmet Rahms after the Chicago election?

DL: Rahm needs to win so I can paint him with deep dish pizza.

Lacey's first Rahm with bagel and lox

Rahm as the unicorn in Lacey's continuing 'Barack Obama Nude On A Unicorn' series. "Not everyone recognized my portrayal of Rahm in this Barack Obama Nude On A Unicorn painting-but many did."

Purchased on eBay by a Serbian collector, this study for a larger Rahm with Hot Dog study was featured in full at Chicago street artist Ray Noland's Pork & Politics show.