Freedom
2020

Freedom is a remake of Norman Rockwell’s famous 1943 painting, Freedom of Speech. In this work, Zelley reframes the idea of freedom as the ability to break from one’s own political affiliation. Freedom depicts a crowded gathering of Trump supports during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. As the crowd wears red “Make America Great Again” hats and holds anti-lockdown posters, one man has removed his hat and stands confidently with a medical mask and material on the deadly virus. He has chosen the freedom to protect his community.

The Problem
2020

This remake of Norman Rockwell's The Problem We All Live With (1964) depicts a boy walking to school in the aftermath of a school shooting. Surrounded by unconcerned adults, he passes a vase of flowers knocked to its side and a wall damaged by ten bullet holes. The words, “Thoughts and Prayers” have faded against the wall. Toting a red, white and blue backpack and Joyce Carol Oates’ 1992 novel, Black Water, the student marches on.

Prints available on request.

Back to School
2020

The phrase "New Normal" has become the soft substitute for "A Deadly and Scary Transformation." Change is unsettling. And the entire world changed overnight with the COVID-19 pandemic.