Victim of the Press

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In 1941, poet and art critic Eli Siegel founded the movement Aesthetic Realism, which is based in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City. The movement operates the Terrain Gallery, which exhibits the teachings of Siegel as well as the work of other artists. During the 1970s, Aesthetic Realism gained mainstream attention but also faced criticism in part due to its sometimes controversial opinions on social issues. In response, its members wore buttons with the slogan “Victim of the Press.” Eli Siegel died by suicide in 1978, and the movement has since declined, with only 66 members as of 2022.