When Howard Schwartz walks into his foyer, 59 framed drawings greet him. With exaggerated features and bold takes on current events, political commentary adorns his entryway stairs in the form of cartoons, depicting candidates from elections past and present.
While his collection includes recent cartoons as well as works from years back, Schwartz says “not much has changed” in these depictions.
“Political cartoons have been around for hundreds of years,” says Schwartz, of West Bloomfield Township. “They always express some sentiment held by the artist, whether they be right-leaning or left-leaning. When I commission an artist, we discuss the election and oftentimes there is research involved and they have complete artist liberty. Some are Democrats. Some are Republican. They all have different expressions.”
Schwartz, who grew up in a family of art collectors, has a personal collection including impressionist works, black and white photography and antique posters.
Political cartoons joined the mix in 1988. The series started when Schwartz met creative illustrator Timothy P. Moynihan. He introduced himself to the artist after buying one of his cartoons at Vorpal Gallery in New York, and their friendship began.
Moynihan lived in Cambridge, Mass., also creating works under the pseudonym Gus Murphy.
A senator’s son, he loved creating cartoons, and Schwartz commissioned pieces from him every four years until Moynihan’s death at age 58 in 2015.
“I didn’t want the collection to stop, so I have subsequently searched for superb political cartoon artists and I now have a group of six artists,” Schwartz says. “I decided to complete a drawing for each of the presidential elections, of which there are 59, including Trump vs. Biden this Nov 3.”
This year, Schwartz decided to honor the late artist by sharing his works in an online exhibit, along with works by other artists. He calls his exhibition “POTUS Toons,” POTUS being the shorthand term for “president of the United States.”
Schwartz, the principal owner of Howard Schwartz Commercial Real Estate, says his family has always actively discussed politics, but also enjoy finding the lighter side of things. He learned to laugh at life from his father, who had a great sense of humor – something he incorporates into his daily life.
“If you’re not having fun, you’re doing something wrong,” Schwartz says. “I’m always looking for the funny side of something. People taking themselves so seriously is not in the best interest for their health.”
View the exhibit online at potustoons.com.
