So, Shepard "Hope Poster" Fairey is still trying to ride that co-opted optimism wave — he's just co-edited the new Art for Obama book. Well, Russia's got a dusty stockpile of old presidential art too. Well, it's not "presidential" anymore/yet (Medvedev's still keeping Putin's seat warm for him until the next election). And it's less art-book and more tacky-thrift-store material, mostly. But let's dig through the pile anyway, because Yes, We Can Too... kind of.

Bust of Putin in Roman Empire attire with 12% liquid gold paint: a $78 souvenir of priceless pomposity.

Putin's image in 2000 Swarovski crystals: an ample $2,032 worth of tackiness.

Amber Putin.

Copper Putin.

Stitch design Putin (for the patriotic grandmas).

Mosaic Putin.

One of these is an expensive portrait by Nikas Safronov and another is dirt cheap, by an unkown. Guess which.

Old Rus style sculptural atrocity and a bust statue. Both unauthorized public art.

Алоцвет's "Fearless Putin in the Baikals" is quite nifty. Putin deep sea diving in a submarine. It's funny 'cause it's true.

Aleskey Akindinov's Putin.

The awesome "12 Moods of Putin" Calendar by Dmitry Vrubel and Victoria Timofeev.

Also popular: "I Want Putin" t-shirts.

Putin matreshkas.

Aside from the matreshka dolls, there's lots of Putin-faced paraphernalia about, festering around the shops and begging to be sold: cheap posters, coins, playing cards, even salt shakers. If Russia's crap peddlers can't get an art-book together, than how about a big old Red Square yard sale?

Shepard Fairey's own Putin

Putin girls photo by Yuri Kozyrev, matreshkas photo by Anatoly Maltsev
Putin Suvinir