Tom Benton, 1930 - 2007
We're very sad to report the loss of the great political artist, Tom Benton. Most famous for creating Hunter S. Thompson's famous poster of the double-thumbed fist clutching a peyote button, he created a series of images for the "Aspen Wallposter" series that featured photos and text by Thompson on the reverse.
One anti-Nixon Wallposter had the phrase "Re-elect the president" under the image of an Old Glory skull with swastika eyes. The image was later used for the cover of Thompson's Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail, 1972. And more recently, as the de facto logo of this site. I'm ashamed to admit we never sought his permission.
You can purchase some of his work from Aspen Graphic Art.
Some of Tom Benton's art:
And a more recent one:
