New York artist Andres Serrano has never shied away from controversy, though he insists provocation is not his goal. Now 75, Andres Serrano became infamous in the late 1980s with Piss Christ, a photograph of a crucifix submerged in urine, which ignited global outrage and was even vandalized in a French museum years later.
Andres Serrano’s work has continued to touch on sensitive cultural nerves, and two of his most striking portraits—convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and U.S. President Donald Trump—are once again attracting attention. Taken years apart, the images offer rare glimpses into two men who dominate headlines for very different reasons.
“Jeffrey Epstein is rolling in his grave laughing about how he is still talked about,” Andres Serrano remarked, adding that the financier was, in his view, otherwise unremarkable. Trump, by contrast, he described as “fascinating,” a man whose presence inspired Andres Serrano to create an entire installation titled The Game: All Things Trump.
Photographing Epstein: A Deal for Art
Andres Serrano’s 2019 portrait of Jeffrey Epstein was the result of a decades-long exchange. In the mid-1990s, Andres Serrano coveted a 16th-century Virgin Mary statue owned by Epstein, and more than 20 years later, he agreed to take the financier’s photograph in trade.
At the time, Epstein had already served jail time for soliciting a minor in 2008, but Serrano admitted he did not hesitate because of his desire to complete his religious statue pairing. “Jeffrey Epstein did not collect art but he collected people,” the artist observed, describing Epstein as a man who thrived on surrounding himself with celebrities and power brokers.
Andres Serrano recalled Epstein as a “strange guy” whose immense wealth was evident but whose source of income was never discussed. While Epstein’s victims may see the portrait through a different lens, Andres Serrano maintains his role was not to judge but to capture an image. “Does that mean the victims would feel better looking at the mugshot?” he asked rhetorically.
Andres Serrano Photographing Trump: A Silent Conversation
In stark contrast to Epstein, Andres Serrano found President Donald Trump to be captivating. His 2004 portrait was part of the artist’s America series, and Serrano later built on this experience by collecting more than 1,000 Trump-branded objects for his installation The Game.
Andres Serrano recalls the photo session as “one of the best portraits I’ve ever seen of Donald Trump,” shaped by his choice to remain silent. “He sizes you up very quickly,” Serrano said, explaining that he avoided words that might irritate or bore the future president. Instead, the session became what Serrano described as a “silent conversation,” with Trump observing him closely throughout.
The resulting image, alongside the expansive Trump-themed installation, underscores the artist’s enduring fascination with Trump as a cultural figure, business magnate, and now political leader serving his second presidential term.
Art, Legacy, and Controversy
For Andres Serrano, the portraits of Epstein and Trump exemplify the way art intersects with culture and controversy. Though he denies intentionally courting outrage, his work continually finds its way into heated public debates.
Whether it is a crucifix submerged in urine, a portrait of a disgraced financier, or a silent encounter with the sitting U.S. president, Serrano’s work continues to provoke reflection on power, morality, and how society remembers its most polarizing figures.
