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Patriotic artist Scott LoBaido is putting the finishing touches on what he calls the largest oil-on-canvas portrait ever of Old Glory at the Great American State Fair in D.C., but the outspoken Trump supporter says the message behind the massive American flag is completely apolitical.
LoBaido told Fox News Digital the American flag “does not belong to any particular party” as he painted the 9-by-17-foot flag at the Made in America Pavilion during the Great American State Fair in the nation’s capital, part of the broader celebration surrounding America’s 250th birthday.
The Staten Island artist said he believes the piece may be the largest oil-on-canvas American flag ever created.
“I am a political person, but that’s irrelevant from this,” LoBaido said. “This flag is for everybody.”
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The New York-based, pro-Trump artist told Fox News Digital that some on the left “run away from the flag because they think it’s a MAGA symbol,” but LoBaido argued that view misses the point of both the flag and his painting.
“This fair right now that we are at is the perfect example, because there are a lot of Democrats that are coming through here,” LoBaido said. “And they know me, and they know my politics. And we did not have any political conversation. We spoke about the flag, the art, the meaning of the flag … how special it is that we’re at this 250th birthday party anniversary.”
LoBaido also pushed back on those who protest the country by desecrating the flag, arguing that Old Glory is what protects their right to protest in the first place.
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“That American flag that men and women still die for is giving you the freedom to be whatever you want, and do whatever you want – protest whatever you want,” LoBaido added. “So that flag should always be up in the air.”
LoBaido told Fox News Digital that the size and live setting of the painting are what make the project different from his past work painting the American flag.
“I believe this is the largest American flag done with oils on canvas at the colossal canvas size of 9 feet by 17 feet,” he said. “So, right there is my biggest detailed oil painting of Old Glory.”
LoBaido added that there was no better place to create the piece publicly than at America’s 250th birthday celebration, calling the American flag itself “the greatest work of art.”
“Where better to unveil, create in public, live, this greatest work of art — not mine, but the American flag itself — at the birthday party of the greatest place in the universe, America, and its 250th birthday party?”
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LoBaido expects the final unveiling to be emotional, adding that he plans to put the finishing touches on the painting on Independence Day before it eventually finds a permanent home.
“I’m just going to put the final touches on it and I don’t know, maybe make an emotional statement, a little speech,” he said, adding that he has “a weakness for this country and the Star-Spangled Banner sung properly.”
LoBaido told Fox News Digital that he has already received interest in the painting, but he also floated one high-profile possibility of where it could wind up landing.
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“Would this not look great in the White House ballroom?” he said. “I think it would be the most beautiful painting with the gold frame on it. Who knows?”
The artist said Trump already owns several of his paintings, but joked that if the president wants this one, “he might have to open up his checkbook,” adding that he gives “a big portion” of his proceeds to charity.
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