Exhibition Series · 2004 – 2005
Iraq:
Paintings of War
An archived exhibition
In 2004, Michael Fratangelo began documenting the war in Iraq through painting. Working from black and white news photographs, he translated the raw imagery of conflict into large-scale, color-saturated canvases — not as propaganda, but as a visual record of a defining moment in contemporary history.
The series drew international attention, earning distinction at the 2005 Florence Biennale and coverage across the United States, Poland, and beyond. It laid the foundation for Fratangelo’s ongoing commitment to socially engaged work, which continues with his 2024 series ref•u•gee.
International Recognition
2005 Florence Biennale
Florence, Italy · Juried international exhibition · Displayed with distinction
Year
2004 – 2005
Pittsburgh premiere 2004
Florence Biennale 2005
Subject
The Iraq War
Inspired by black & white news photographs documenting the conflict
International Press
Poland · United States
Wiedza i Życie, Pittsburgh-area press
“It’s more of a visual document of war. I just want to document it as an event of our time.”— Michael Fratangelo
The Process
Fratangelo worked from black and white news photographs sourced from the conflict in Iraq, transforming documentary images into large-scale paintings that pulse with color and symbolic energy. Each canvas began with the same question he brings to his portrait commissions: what is the spiritual truth beneath the surface of what we see?
Where news photography captures a moment in monochrome, Fratangelo’s paintings explode that moment into color — not to beautify, but to feel. The juxtaposition of the source photograph alongside the finished work reveals the distance between documentation and interpretation.
Selected Works · As featured in Wiedza i Życie, Poland, June 2005
The following paintings were reproduced in the Polish science and culture magazine Wiedza i Życie alongside their source photographs — one of the first international publications to feature Fratangelo’s Iraq series.
Selected work 01
coming soon
Selected work 02
coming soon
Selected work 03
coming soon
Press Coverage
Interested in this series for exhibition or publication?
Iraq: Paintings of War is an archived series. For inquiries regarding exhibition loans, reproduction rights, or institutional interest, please get in touch directly.