Painting comparing Netanyahu to Hitler removed from Saatchi art fair amid outrage

Above the face, the word “Monster” can be seen. Below the painting is a caption which reads: “The true story of how Monsters were created and how we defeated them by James Earley.” 

According to the artist, the oil painting, part of his series on war and conflict, is of an “imaginary book which tells the story how these monsters are eventually defeated”. 

The artist received an email from The Other Art Fair last night asking him to remove the painting after the organisers received complaints. 

Upon the organisers demanding Earley remove the painting, he chose to leave the event entirely and remove any remaining artwork he was exhibiting.

UK Lawyers For Israel (UKLFI) told the JC that it had received reports from visitors to the opening show who were “extremely distressed” and even left in tears by the artwork. 

"One of the artworks on display by James Earley falls squarely within the IHRA definition of antisemitism, by drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis,” Caroline Turner, UKLFI Director, told the JC. 

“The artwork stirs up hatred against Jews and Israelis and cause distress to Jewish and other visitors.” 

One visitor who saw the painting and preferred to remain anonymous said: "I found the image deeply, deeply, deeply offensive both to the memory of the Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust, and to the memory of the Victims of October 7.

"I felt so upset by it that I felt a mixture of rage and tears. All the attendees were looking at it and pointing at it and telling the artist how wonderful and clever he was.”

Other art by Earley available to purchase for £6,973 on Saatchi Art’s online website includes Mowing The Lawn, which depicts three screaming women, who appear to be Palestinian, wearing concentration camp prisoner uniforms. The background shows a city burning in flames.

The JC has discovered a number of other artworks involving the Holocaust displayed on Saatchi Art’s digital catalogue by Belgium artist Wim Carrette.

One painting, called Criminal with Hat, depicts Neyantahu wearing the uniform of an SS officer. The SS symbol is visible on the man’s collar and hat. The man’s attire of blue and white stripes also resembles a concentration camp prisoner uniform. 

Another painting by the same artist called Axis of Evil shows a tyrannical creature — whose torso is stamped with the Star of David — at the helm of a violent scene. The American, Israeli and UK flags can be seen flying to one side, while a squad of seven soldiers assemble to target a woman and her child. Plumes of grey smoke cascade out of the creature’s mouth into the red sky. 

Another painting by Carrette, entitled Clowno-caust, shows Netanyahu — again wearing concentration camp stripes — standing in front of a circus-themed “Holocaust museum”. 

Netanyahu, who is dressed as a clown, stands next to American mascot Uncle Sam and a pile of bodies reminisent of victims of the Holocaust, which seem to be on display at the museum. 

A circus tent in the background has the text “Never Again” written at its entrance, with a Star of David on either side. 

According to his Saatchi Art profile, Carrette studied at the LUCA School of Arts in Belgium in 1980.

Another painting by Carrette, on sale on Saatchi Art for £1,296, shows IDF soliders, one wearing a Nazi armband, attacking a man in the street. The painting is called Zionist Football.

James Earley told the JC: “I am not antisemitic, I have painted artworks that look at the horror of the Holocaust. I visited Auschwitz and it had a deep impact on me. I could not understand how people could do that to each other. I want the people of Israel and Palestine to live in peace. I just want the killing to stop and I see Netanyahu as somebody who just wants it to continue.”

The Saatchi Gallery is not unaffiliated in any way with Saatchi Art.

The Other Art Fair said: “As you noted, we have asked the artist James Earley to remove the artwork in question from his display. Per our terms, we reserve the right to remove any works from the event that are discriminatory, libelous, or otherwise defamatory, and we consider this work to be in violation.”

His controversial paintings are no longer for sale on Saatchi Art, nor were they sold through Saatchi Art's marketplace or as part of the fairs.

The JC contacted Carrette and Saatchi Art for comment.