Chicago Politics Art Appraisal

Hope, a Portrait of Brandon Johnson by Courtney Jolliff

This is an original expressionist work titled 'Hope' by artist Courtney Jolliff, rendered in acrylic paint on a substrate of repurposed or found corrugated cardboard. The piece features a stylized portrait of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. The composition uses a bold, primary color palette including reds, yellows, and blues, with heavy black outlines characteristic of contemporary folk or outsider art styles. The figure in the foreground is depicted with a multi-colored, mosaic-like face, white shirt, red tie, and blue suit, while a larger, monochromatic grey-toned version of the subject looms in the background. To the right, a vertical stack of red stars evokes the imagery of the Chicago city flag. The word 'HOPE' is prominently painted in white across the bottom. The piece is notably hand-signed by Brandon Johnson on the lapel/shoulder area in dark ink or marker. The cardboard edges appear rough and slightly uneven, typical of found materials. The paint application is thick and gestural with visible brushwork. The physical condition appears stable, though the medium suggests a fragile, non-archival nature. This is a contemporary piece, likely created around the subject's 2023 mayoral campaign or inauguration, blending political memorabilia with modern street-influenced portraiture.