Satirical Anti-Trump Images Projected by Artists Throughout Los Angeles

On Monday, September 22, Los Angeles’s 2nd Street and Beaudry Avenue became the latest canvas for “Vjaybombs,” an anonymous street art collective. Using digital projections, the group revealed the image of FBI Director Kash Patel, with previous works lampooning figures like Donald Trump eating the Epstein files, and parodies like “Faux News” for Fox News. These subversive “projection bombs,” as described by the collective during an email interview with Hyperallergic, aim to voice the frustrations of the working class through clever, property-preserving methods.

Vjaybombs, a band of working-class filmmakers, leverages the art form to critique political and corporate malfeasance, addressing themes like anti-fascism and social justice. With a 100,000-strong Instagram following, the group’s satirical expressions of resistance against figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz carve a new path in guerilla street art. Their works also extend to crafted portrayals, such as Jesus being detained by an ICE agent, often using humor as a vehicle for critique.

A notable piece prominently criticized Trump’s relationship with the media, portrayed by projecting a visual of him silencing comedian Jimmy Kimmel onto the El Capitan Theatre, coinciding with news of the latter’s show suspension. Vjaybombs describe taking inspiration from current events for their multimedia protests, ensuring relevance and impact. Starting modestly in July with textual displays urging then-President Joe Biden’s withdrawal over health concerns, their art has evolved technologically and thematically to a more seamless integration with their environment.

Vjaybombs’s creative insurgency reflects an era where humor and visual art become potent tools against political and ideological injustice. As their provocations continue to shine and project across spaces, they remind communities that satire and wit remain formidable in confronting complex global narratives.