Anthony Porrello is a Young Republican who excels in a field that few conservatives find themselves: Fine Art. Influenced originally in his childhood by the likes of Picasso (both positively and negatively) and Dali, Porrello takes an abstract approach to his work. “There’s no clothing [in my painting],” Anthony explains. “There are no cars, there’s nothing specifically that ties it to a certain era of time. And the reason for that is there’s a timeless element to art… and is to be appreciated throughout history.”

Though there is a recurring motif in his work involving abstract timelessness, it is still very modern and very real. Although we live in an age where one can turn off politics easily, Porrello admits there is an underlying political influence in his works. “For most of these paintings, I was listening to CNN.”

“CNN is just loaded with negativity. And I don’t use it as a way to project from, but I kinda find it irritating, and I like to paint irritated…or impassioned about something, and CNN will do that to you.”

In his paintings one will find religiouspolitical imagery such as dramatic portrayals of Jesus on the way to the Cross, abortion,
and drug addicts, which Porrello explains as, “Liberalism run amuck.”

Painting is a powerful form of speech, Porrello ads, “You can’t yell back at a painting.” It allows the painter to be impassioned.

Another thing Porrello has been notably impassioned about is his current fight with the city of San Diego. His property in University City is being scrutinized by the City for its wildly different landscaping. The long-term project, which involves substantially-sized planters in a beautiful Mexican/Mediterranean style and hundreds of cacti, has drawn the ire of Porrello’s neighbors.

Keep an eye out for Porrello in San Diego galleries and elsewhere. If you see someone pulling a painting out of a car with a Bush sticker on it, it’s probably him.