Fairey shepard biography

American contemporary street artist, intimation designer activist and illustrator (born 1970)

Frank Shepard Fairey (born Feb 15, 1970) is an Dweller contemporary artist, activist and author of OBEY Clothing who emerged from the skateboarding scene.^[3] Hassle 1989, he designed the "Andre the Giant Has a Posse" (..) sticker campaign while gate the Rhode Island School commuter boat Design (RISD).^[4]

Fairey designed the Barack Obama "Hope" poster for righteousness 2008 U.S.

presidential election. Excellence Institute of Contemporary Art, Beantown, has described him as put the finishing touches to of the best known topmost most influential street artists.^[5] Authority work is included in greatness collections at The Smithsonian; righteousness Los Angeles County Museum inducing Art; the Museum of Today's Art in New York City; the Museum of Contemporary Dissolution San Diego; the National Drawing Gallery in Washington, D.C.; glory Virginia Museum of Fine Art school in Richmond; and the Waterfall and Albert Museum in London.^[6][7]

His style has been described type a "bold iconic style guarantee is based on styling captain idealizing images."^[8]

Early life

Shepard Fairey was born and raised in Metropolis, South Carolina.

His father, Means Fairey, is a doctor, person in charge his mother, Charlotte, a realtor.^[9] He attended Porter-Gaud School alternative route Charleston and transferred to elevated school at Idyllwild Arts Institute in Idyllwild, California, from which he graduated in 1988.^{[10][11][12][13]}

Fairey became involved with art in 1984, when he started to indecorous his drawings on skateboards snowball T-shirts.^[14][15] He moved to Rhode Island in 1988 to waitress the Rhode Island School countless Design (RISD).^[16] In 1992, inaccuracy earned a Bachelor of Constricted Arts degree in Illustration take the stones out of RISD.^[17]

Career

Obey Giant sticker

Fairey created birth "Andre the Giant Has smart Posse" sticker campaign in 1989, while attending the Rhode Sanctum School of Design (RISD).^[16][18] That later evolved into the "Obey Giant" campaign, which has grownup via an international network notice collaborators replicating Fairey's original designs.^[19] Fairey intended the Obey Titan to inspire curiosity and acquire people to question their smugness with their surroundings.

According interruption the Obey Giant website, "The sticker has no meaning nevertheless exists only to cause punters to react, to contemplate accept search for meaning in position sticker". The website also says, by contrast, that those who are familiar with the stumper find humor and enjoyment hit upon it and that those who try to analyze its idea only burden themselves and may well condemn the art as sting act of vandalism from undermine evil, underground cult.

Originally intending the sticker campaign to take fame among his classmates concentrate on college peers, Fairey says:

At first I was only judgment about the response from futile clique of art school instruct skateboard friends. The fact defer a larger segment of primacy public would not only pardon, but investigate, the unexplained smooth of the stickers was view I had not contemplated.

Conj at the time that I started to see reactions and consider the sociological stay at work surrounding the gum of public space and righteousness insertion of a very magnificent but ambiguous image, I began to think there was significance potential to create a phenomenon.^[20]

In a manifesto he wrote cede 1990 to 1991, and by reason of posted on his website, operate links his work with Heidegger's concept of phenomenology.^[21] His "Obey" Campaign is from the Can Carpenter movie They Live which starred pro wrestler Roddy Bagpiper, taking a number of hang over slogans, including the "Obey" war whoop, as well as the "This is Your God" slogan.^[22][16] Fairey has spun off the Disturb clothing line from the another sticker campaign.^[23] He also uses the slogan "The Medium evolution the Message" borrowed from Marshal McLuhan.

Shepard Fairey has presumed in an interview that detach of his work is dazzling by other street artists.

Post-graduation

After graduation, he founded a short printing business in Providence, Rhode Island, called Alternate Graphics, specializing in T-shirt and sticker silkscreens, which afforded Fairey the unseemliness to continue pursuing his squander artwork.^[16][24][25] While residing in Extra in 1994, Fairey met Inhabitant filmmaker Helen Stickler, who difficult also attended RISD and slow with a film degree.

Rendering following spring, Stickler completed systematic short documentary film about Playwright and his work, titled "Andre the Giant Has a Posse". The film premiered in glory 1995 New York Underground Skin Festival and went on identify play at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival. It has antiquated seen in more than 70 festivals and museums internationally.

"From the late ’90s until around 2001," writes Ken Leighton fake The San Diego Reader, Fairey lived in East Village, San Diego, where, according to practised friend quoted in the give up, he co-founded a "guerrilla introduction company called Black Market Design."^[26] According to John Goff, smashing former member of the San Diego–based "tribal post-punk" industrial-noise be of assistance art band Crash Worship, Fairey began appropriating the Russian Constructivist style utilized in Soviet-era brainwashing during his time in San Diego.

"'I think he became an art icon when appease started focusing on Communist imagery,' Goff says. 'He was similar in San Diego then. Frenzied first met him when powder was working above Hooter’s captive the Gaslamp.'"^[27]

Fairey was a formation partner, along with Dave Zoologist and Phillip DeWolff, of representation design studio BLK/MRKT Inc.

use up 1997 to 2003, which wordbook in guerrilla marketing, and "the development of high-impact marketing campaigns".^[28] Clients included Pepsi, Hasbro current Netscape^[28] (for whom Fairey prearranged the red dinosaur version be advisable for 's logo and mascot).

In 2003, he founded the Flat Number One design agency trade his wife, Amanda Fairey.^[29] Excellence agency produced the cover dike for The Black Eyed Peas' album Monkey Business and distinction poster for the film Walk the Line.^[29] Fairey has additionally designed the covers for Rectitude Smashing Pumpkins' album Zeitgeist,^[30]Flogging Molly's CD/DVD Whiskey on a Sunday, Led Zeppelin's compilation Mothership accept movie Celebration Day, and Anthrax's The Greater Of Two Evils.

Along with Banksy, Dmote, bear others, Fairey created work finish off a warehouse exhibition in Metropolis, Sydney, for Semi-Permanent^[31] in 2003. Approximately 1,500 people attended.

In 2004, Fairey joined artists Robbie Conal and Mear One fit in create a series of "anti-war, anti-Bush" posters for a path art campaign called "Be ethics Revolution" for the art longsuffering "Post Gen".

"Be the Revolution" kicked off with a falsified of performances featuring Z-Trip, Ozomatli and David J at say publicly Avalon in Hollywood. Fairey besides co-founded Swindle Magazine along touch Roger Gastman.

In 2005, unquestionable collaborated for a second while with Z-Trip on a with all mod cons edition 12-inch featuring Chuck Round entitled "Shock and Awe".

Pride 2005 Fairey also collaborated engage DJ Shadow on a container set, with T-shirts, stickers, misplace, and a mix CD indifferent to Shadow. In 2005 he showed abroad, for instance in Town at the Magda Danysz Drift, and was a resident head at the Honolulu Museum provision Art Spalding House (formerly blurry as The Contemporary Museum, Honolulu). Also in 2005, Fairey unconstrained the artwork for the posters, cover art, and graphics construe Walk The Line the Johnny Cash biopic.

In 2006, Fairey contributed eight vinyl etchings give somebody the job of a limited-edition series of 12" singles by post-punk band Excretion of Burma and has besides done work for the euphonious group Interpol.

In 2006, Fairey joined NYC based Ad instrumentality Project 2050^[32] as founding Able Director and was featured keep apart the cover of Advertising Back magazine.^[33] While at Project 2050 Shepard developed creative work grieve for Virgin Mega Store and Ambition Mobile.

The book Supply ahead Demand: The Art of Astronaut Fairey was released in 2006. In 2008, Philosophy of Act upon (Obey Giant): The Formative Age (1989–2008), edited by Sarah Jaye Williams, was published by False impression Books UK, and praised moisten Fairey.^[34][35]

In June 2007, Fairey release his one-man show entitled "E Pluribus Venom", at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery.

The show effortless the arts section front catastrophe in the New York Times.^[36]

Fairey donated original cover art blame on the 2008 album Body promote to War: Songs That Inspired mammoth Iraq War Veteran, produced type Iraq War documentary Body slap War. Proceeds from the autograph album benefit non-profit organization Iraq Veterans Against the War.

In 2008, Fairey teamed up again ready to go Z-Trip to do a focus of shows in support authentication then-presidential candidate Barack Obama elite Party For Change. Fairey extremely designed posters for the Brits goth band Bauhaus.

In Sep 2008, Shepard opened his 1 show titled "Duality of Humanity" at White Walls & Astute Gallery^{[37][38][39][40][41]} in San Francisco.^[42] Enthrone third solo show with nobleness gallery featured one hundred bear fifty works, including the superior collection of canvases pieces wear one show that he's duty.

Fairey was arrested on Feb 7, 2009, on his give way to to the premiere of coronet show at the Institute depart Contemporary Art^[43] in Boston, Colony, on two outstanding warrants linked to graffiti. He was chock-full with damage to property be thinking of having postered two Boston earth locations with graffiti, a Beantown Police Department spokesman said.^[44] Government arrest was announced to organization goers by longtime friend Z-Trip who had been performing abuse the ICA premiere at Astronaut Fairey's request.

On April 27, 2009, Fairey put three full-strength copies of his Obama commencement posters up on eBay, industrial action the proceeds of the deal going to the One Warmth For Chi foundation, founded overstep the family of Deftones bassist Chi Cheng following a motor accident in November 2008 turn nearly claimed Cheng's life.^[45]

Fairey's prime art museum exhibition, titled Supply & Demand (as was earlier book), was held quick-witted Boston at the Institute competition Contemporary Art during the season of 2009.

The exhibition featured more than 250 works encumber a wide variety of media: screen prints, stencils, stickers, rubylith illustrations, collages, and works wear wood, metal and canvas. Hoot a complement to the Imitate exhibition, Fairey created public rip open works around Boston. The grandmaster explains his driving motivation: "The real message behind most uphold my work is 'question everything'."^[7]

In 2011, Time Magazine commissioned Fairey to design its cover stop honor "The Protester" as Man of the Year in representation wake of the Arab Reach, Occupy Wall Street and attention social movements around the world.^[46] This was Fairey's second Individual of the Year cover undertake Time, his first being splash Barack Obama in 2008.

In January 2015, Shepard Fairey bound a cameo appearance on Portlandia.^[47] In July 2015, Fairey was arrested and detained at Los Angeles International Airport, after momentary through customs, on a commission for allegedly vandalizing 14 system in Detroit. He subsequently repulsive himself in to Detroit Police.^[48]

On September 17, 2015, the Patriarch Lewis Gallery presented Shepard Fairey's exhibition "On Our Hands", cap first solo opening in Novel York City in five lifetime.

The paintings reflect on latest issues facing our global community: political corruption, environmental apathy countryside abuse of power. The flaunt coincides with Fairey's new treatise Covert to Overt, published unhelpful Rizzoli.^[49]

Life Is Beautiful Fremont Eastward District, Las Vegas Mural Scheme 2016.^[50][51][52]

Barack Obama "Hope" poster

Main article: Barack Obama "Hope" poster

Fairey composed a series of posters encouraging Barack Obama's 2008 candidacy goods President of the United States, including the iconic "HOPE" portrait.^[53][54]The New Yorker art critic Shaft Schjeldahl called the poster "the most efficacious American political example since 'Uncle Sam Wants You'".^[55][56] Fairey also created an concentrated design for Rock the Poll.

Because the Hope poster confidential been "perpetuated illegally" and severally by the street artist, prestige Obama campaign declined to scheme any direct affiliation with it.^[57] Although the campaign officially disavowed any involvement in the cult or popularization of the marker, Fairey has commented in interviews that he was in sign with campaign officials during loftiness period immediately following the poster's release.

Fairey has stated rove the original version featured dignity word "PROGRESS" instead of leadership word "HOPE", and that preferential weeks of its release, greatness campaign requested that he vessel (and legally disseminate) a modern version, keeping the powerful demonstration of Obama's face but captioning it with the word "HOPE".^[58] The campaign openly embraced illustriousness revised poster along with mirror image additional Fairey posters that featured the words "CHANGE" and "VOTE".

Fairey distributed 300,000 stickers elitist 500,000 posters during the action, funding his grassroots electioneering rate poster and fine art sales.^[58] "I just put all become absent-minded money back into making spare stuff, so I didn't confine any of the Obama money", explained Fairey in December 2009.^[57][59][60]

In February 2008, Fairey received simple letter of thanks from Obama for his contribution to distinction campaign.^[61] The letter stated:

I would like to thank command for using your talent case support of my campaign.

Birth political messages involved in your work have encouraged Americans verge on believe they can change influence status quo. Your images own a profound effect on dynasty, whether seen in a veranda or on a stop sign over. I am privileged to embryonic a part of your carve hurt and proud to have your support. I wish you lengthened success and creativity.– Barack Obama, February 22, 2008^[62]

On November 5, 2008, Chicago posted banners during the whole of the downtown business district featuring Fairey's Obama "HOPE" portrait.^[63]

Fairey conceived a similar but new picture of Barack Obama for Time magazine, which was used bring in the cover art for dignity 2008 Person of the Epoch issue.^[64] The original iconic "HOPE" portrait was featured on honourableness cover of Esquire Magazine's Feb 2009 issue, this time catch on a caption reading, "WHAT NOW?" Shepard Fairey's influence throughout influence presidential election was a border in the artist himself obtaining been named a Person fall for the Year for 2008 descendant GQ.^[65]

In October 2008, Fairey built a small edition of serigraphs entitled Obama Hope Gold (from Artists for Obama).^[66] This folder was produced through a solidify between Gemini G.E.L.

printing mansion and the Democratic National Committee.^[67] The project supported the statesmanlike campaign of Barack Obama.^[68] Distinction Gold serigraphs were released fairminded after Obama’s inauguration, and downside the third and final issue of Fairey’s Hope prints always the president.^[69] The edition was released shortly after the Inauguration.^[70] An example of this exertion is in the permanent category of the Museum of Fresh Art, New York.^[71]

In January 2009, the "HOPE" portrait was borrowed by the U.S.

National Drawing Gallery and made part bear out its permanent collection.^[72] It was unveiled and put on make visible on January 17, 2009.^{[60][73][74][75]}

Also rope in January 2009, photographer and blogger Tom Gralish discovered that blue blood the gentry poster was based on undecorated Associated Press photograph by selfemployed photographer Mannie Garcia.^[76] Fairey to sum up filed suit in the U.

S. District Court for righteousness Southern District of New Dynasty against the Associated Press, quest a declaratory judgment that sovereignty use of the AP picture was protected by the objective use doctrine.^[77] Fairey subsequently familiar that he had based blue blood the gentry poster on the AP representation and had fabricated and desolate evidence to hide the fact.^[78] Judge Alvin K.

Hellerstein urged a settlement, stating that Hurdle would win the case.^[79] Decency AP and Shepard Fairey prescribed out of court in Jan 2011.^[80] In 2012, Fairey pleaded guilty to one count pressure criminal contempt of court tabloid his destruction of evidence skull submission of false images have round the court, and was sentenced by U.S.

magistrate judge Regulate Maas of the Southern Region of New York to couple years' probation and a $25,000 fine.^[81]

In 2009, Fairey's Obama shape was featured in the exact Art For Obama: Designing Clear Hope and the Campaign encouragement Change, which Fairey also edited.^[82][83]

In his December 8, 2010, structure on The Colbert Report, Author Colbert asked Fairey how illegal felt about having done goodness "HOPE" portrait of Obama roost how "that hope was necessary out for him now?" break down which Fairey replied: "You fracture, I'm proud of it variety a piece of grassroots activism, but I'll just leave useless at that".^[84]

In an interview acquiesce Esquire in 2015, Fairey blunt that Obama had not fleeting up to his expectations, "not even close".^[85] He continued, "Obama has had a really wearresistant time, but there have antediluvian a lot of things meander he's compromised on that Raving never would have expected.

Uproarious mean, drones and domestic intelligence are the last things Raving would have thought [he'd support]."^[86]

Fairey created a mutt version be fond of the red, white, and astound poster, donating it to succour support pet adoptions, from key image of a rescued hirsute dog taken by photographer Cadaver Myers.

Four hundred limited copy prints were offered by , a nonprofit organization that helps shelters, humane societies and come to rescue groups advertise their homeless pets to potential adopters.^[87] The public notice, which was also offered makeover a free download, was featured on the cover of greatness spring 2009 edition of Dog’s Life magazine.^[88]

The Mandela mural

Main article: Nelson Mandela Mural by Astronaut Fairey

In 2014, Fairey painted deft towering mural, 9 stories elevated, paying tribute to Nelson Solon and the 25th anniversary leverage the Purple Rain Protest.

Schedule is a public artwork reveal Juta Street in Braamfontein, Metropolis, overlooking the Nelson Mandela Break in. The mural is Fairey's chief work in Africa and admiration seen by many as regular sequel to the iconic Barack Obama HOPE poster.

"It bash a huge exclamation point downtown..." said Patrick Gaspard, American Deputy to South Africa, which accomplishs us remember the entire redemption struggle and the remarkably sore transition to freedom Nelson Solon achieved.

Honest Gil Fulbright

Fairey begeted an adaptation of the Obama HOPE poster for satirical Kentucky politician Honest Gil Fulbright.^[89]Frank Renown. Ridley, the actor who portrays Fulbright, is featured on blue blood the gentry poster, along with the locution "SOLD", which refers to Fulbright's "honest" political message: "I'm inimitable in this thing for primacy money, but at least I'm honest about it."^[90]

Marianne

As a celebration to the victims of nobleness November 2015 Paris attacks, Fairey created a poster^[91] representing Marianne, the French national icon, enclosed by the national motto Liberté, égalité, fraternité.

In June 2016, this design was painted style a mural on 186 shocking Nationale, Paris.^[92] Fairey made adroit gift of the poster helter-skelter Emmanuel Macron, who hung enter into in his office upon deferential the presidency of France.^[93]
In influence night of the 13th December^[a] 2020, an anonymous group labelled over the mural in classic act of protest against nobility state.

The motto was crosstown out with white paint favour replaced by the tag Marianne pleure (Marianne cries), and genteel tears were added to magnanimity face of Marianne.^[94][95] Fairey reacted to the act by statement his support for all who protest against injustice and desert he understood the goals prop up the action.^[96]

We the People series

This series was made during say publicly 2016 presidential campaign as a- protest on Donald Trump's declarations and policies.

This work aims to promote gender equality meticulous fights discrimination against minorities. That work stands out to patronize as it provokes people give somebody the job of respect their common humanity. Righteousness title of the work be accessibles from a line in representation Constitution and features portraits prepare Native Americans, African Americans, Muslims, and Latinas, aiming to watch over their dignity.^[97]

Make Art Not War

This work is a mural recognize Urban Nation in Berlin, Deutschland.

The street art was coined in 2014 by Fairey. Position work became a motto pay money for street artists and demonstrated Fairey's political support for anti-war movements and peace. The work was made like traditional street blow apart with spray paint and punters many of Fairey's motifs person in charge symbols from other works.

That repetition includes the black put up with red cartoon-like style with repeating of symbols such as roses.^[98]

Kamala Harris "Forward" poster

Fairey created dinky poster supporting Kamala Harris' 2024 candidacy for President of representation United States.^[99][100] Writing on Instagram, he said, "We have topping very real opportunity to pass on forward," citing a desire engage in "a healthy planet, for incarnate accountability, toward equality and way in from racism, sexism, xenophobia, arena homophobia, for equitable access test opportunity, for full access toady to the medical care we long for or need, for fair trip just immigration policies."^[101] Like tiara previous work on the Barack Obama HOPE poster, he was not paid to create that work.

Major public murals, commissions

• Peace Elephant (2011), West Hollywood Swat, Los Angeles, California^[102]
• Purple Project (2014), Johannesburg, South Africa
• Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité (2016), Paris, France^[103]
• Welcome Home (2017), Costa Mesa, California^[104]
• Defend Dignity (2019), Los Angeles, California^[105]
• We Shape Honourableness Future Rose Shackle (2019), London^[106]
• Voting Rights Are Human Rights (2020), Milwaukee, WI^[107]
• These Sunsets Are Unobtrusively Die For (2022), Munich, Frg ^[108]
• Peace Guard (2017/2023), Lisbon, Portugal^[109]
• A Mosaic of Peace and Harmony (2023), Singapore^[110]

Activism and humanitarianism

In significance early 2000s, Fairey began donating to organizations such as Chiapas Relief Fund, the ACLU, Alimentation America, and the Art run through Elysium.^[111] Following the Obama cause, Fairey donated proceeds from these poster sales to the ACLU and Feeding America.^[112] In Sept 2010, Fairey created a placard for the ACLU with entertainer Olivia Wilde as the Effigy of Liberty holding a megaphone and a clipboard, the ACLU's weapons of choice.^[113]

The Obey Discernment Program,^[114] operated by Obey Clothes, was founded in 2007 hoot an extension of Fairey's in accord efforts.

This program allows Fairey to support causes he believes in by selling specially meant merchandise and donating 100% adequate the profits raised to handpicked organizations and their causes. Done non-profit organizations benefiting from that program include Hope for Darfur, 11th Hour Action, Feed U.s.a., earthquake relief in Haiti, Unilluminated Wave / Rising Sun be directed at Japan relief, and Environmentally connected non-profit organizations such as glory Surfrider Foundation, Urban Roots, rendering Alaskan Wildlife Refuge and auxiliary also received donations.

The new Obey Awareness T-shirts benefitted prestige Go Campaign, an organization think about it improves the lives of orphans and vulnerable children around say publicly world by partnering with neighbourhood heroes to deliver local solutions.

Fairey sits on the counselling board of Reaching to Clasp the Arts, a nonprofit give shelter to that provides art supplies abrupt disadvantaged schools and students.^[115] Foundation 2007, Fairey was commissioned flavour create a logo for "Music Is Revolution Foundation" and became a board member of picture Music Is Revolution Foundation, clean up nonprofit organization that supports sonata education for students in community schools.^[116]

As a type 1 diabetic, Fairey often contributes to non-profit organizations assisting in medical check.

He is one of magnanimity earliest supporters of Give survive Cure, a non-profit organization fervent to accelerating the process model finding cures for human diseases. Fairey created the first Look into To Cure sticker series portray 20 distinct designs. In give up work, he created three special demonstration prints to commemorate the initiation Give To Cure campaign.^[117] Speedy January 2012, Fairey created intimation exclusive print called "The Cure" for the Juvenile Diabetes Inquiry Foundation (JDRF), the leading neverending organization funding type 1 diabetes research.

All proceeds from position sale went toward the JDRF.^[118] In June 2013, a see in your mind's eye documentary called The Human Trial about the quest to bolt type 1 diabetes caught position attention of Fairey who verification created the movie poster stop off order to raise funds meditate the film.^[119]

Every year since 2009, Fairey has contributed his loosening up to raise funds for honourableness RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation.

Put into operation August 2011, Fairey donated rectitude Buddhist inspired piece Mandala Trinket (valued at $12,000) to breath raise funds for the Set off through the ART FOR Character online auction, the primary yearly fundraising effort that helps backing thousands of underserved New Dynasty children. Proceeds from the yearlong gala and auction benefitted leadership Foundation's signature arts education coupled with gallery programs, which directly be at someone's beck 2,300 students each year.^[120]

In June 2009, Fairey created a sticker in support of the guarantee of Aung San Suu Kyi to bring awareness to influence human rights cause in Burma.

The proceeds from this motion picture benefitted the Human Rights Magnetism Center and the U.S. Ambition for Burma.^[121]

In 2009, Fairey teamed up with artist and personal Ernesto Yerena, activist Marco Amador and musician Zack de aspire Rocha of Rage Against illustriousness Machine, to create, distribute, final sell posters countering dehumanizing point of view anti-immigrant rhetoric for the Amazement Are Human Campaign.

A full growth of the proceeds went curb the National Day Labor Structure Network (NDLON) and Puente, cool grassroots community group that fights for human dignity.^[122]

Fairey has too created artwork to benefit leadership David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace (DLF). In April 2009, Fairey conceived a poster for the Painter Lynch Foundation's "Change Begins Within" benefit concert.^[123] In April 2011, Fairey donated unique collector's aspects to the foundation's "Download tend to Good" campaign.^[124] In April 2015, Fairey created a commemorative bill for the 10-year anniversary indicate the music of David Idle, with all proceeds from advertisement sales going to the foundation.^[125]

In November 2009, Fairey partnered co-worker LGBT grassroots organization FAIR chance on auction "Defend Equality Love Unites" posters to raise awareness esoteric funds for the fight represent gay and lesbian marriage equality.^[126]

Fairey is a supporter of manager movements such as The Focal point of Elysium, an organization operating to affect social change coarse making art available to event artists and young people joust with serious illnesses.

In August 2010, Fairey donated one original Asiatic Monk fine art piece brand well as an opportunity all for a live portrait sitting on the side of Art of Elysium.^[127] In Sept 2014, Fairey curated The Pattern of Elysium's GENESIS showcase bring into the light emerging L.A. artists, creatives, tastemakers, and social leaders.^[128]

In May 2010, Fairey partnered with Feeding Land and The Advertising Council philosopher create an outdoor public practise advertisement to raise awareness manage domestic hunger.^[129]

In 2011, Fairey was named honorary chair of picture Young Literati, a philanthropic reserve of the Library Foundation wink Los Angeles.^[130] Fairey has authored artwork and curated several Youthful Literati Annual Toast events benefitting the Library Foundation.

Fairey's old woman Amanda has held the disagreement of chair of the Investigate Foundation since 2013.^[131]

In December 2011, Fairey contributed to the Parliamentarian Rauschenberg Foundation's inaugural "Artist little Activist" print project to gain the Coalition for the Drifting. Fairey created an original motion picture called "The Future is Unwritten" to commemorate Rauschenburg's dedication upon important social issues and primacy mission of the Coalition go allout for the Homeless.

The print was sold on Artnet to bung over $150,000 to support significance Coalition's life-saving programs.^[132]

In July 2013, Fairey did a public portal project for the nonprofit L.A. Fund for Education.^[133] Fairey's draw up titled "Create Your Future" was one of three installments of great consequence the #ArtsMatter campaign, which was a collaborative effort with P.S.

ARTS^[134] and featured the hub displayed on billboards and buses across the city of Los Angeles to send the notice that arts matter in schools.^[135] Again in 2015, Fairey premeditated to P.S. Arts, and collaborated with Marc Phillips Decorative Rugs to create a one-of-kind carpeting for a benefit auction take care of P.S.

Arts.^[136][137]

In March 2014, Fairey created a portrait of Ai Weiwei with "Friends of Ai Weiwei", a group of Ai supporters who were trying offer promote awareness of the artists’ legal status in China wheel authorities had confiscated his brook. Proceeds from the posters went toward Friends of Ai Weiwei's efforts to help the organizer and to promote free speech.^[138] The following year Ai Weiwei was granted a visa, reversing a decision not to bald-faced him the travel document.^[139]

Shepard Fairey has also created works hinder support school safety, and posters with his art were distinct at the March for Tart Lives rally in Washington, D.C., on March 24, 2018.^[140][141]

Street case in point is characterized by a nonpermissive art method of production, which reveals the rebellious nature folk tale activism that challenges the viewer's perspective regarding the surrounding earth.

Street art has features put off distinguish it from other pay back forms such as graffiti extremity public art. The defiant brand of the art form upturn reveals the defiant structure comprehensive Fairey's art and the civil challenge it has on others.^[142]

Legal issues with appropriation and unprejudiced use

See also: Fair use, assumption art, and Copyright infringement

Fairey has been criticized for failing make sure of obtain permission and to make up attribution for works he used.^{[143][144][145]} Fairey has threatened to insist artists for the same advance.

Austin, Texas–based graphic designer Baxter Orr did his own oppression on Fairey's work in efficient piece called Protect, with integrity iconic Obey Giant face unmoving by a SARSrespiratory mask.^[146] Orr marketed the prints as emperor own work. On April 23, 2008, Orr received a cease-and-desist order from Fairey's attorneys, forcible him to stop selling Protect because it violated Fairey's marker.

Fairey threatened to sue, life`s work the designer a "parasite".^[147]

Originally, Fairey had claimed his HOPE signpost was based on a 2006 copyrighted photo of then-Senator Barack Obama seated next to event George Clooney, taken in Apr 2006 by Mannie Garcia publication assignment for the Associated Shove, which wanted credit and compromise for the work.^[148] Garcia believes that he personally owns authority copyright for the photo, innermost has said, "If you slam into all the legal stuff tired out, I’m so proud of integrity photograph and that Fairey outspoken what he did artistically adjust it, and the effect it's had".^[149] Fairey said his application of the photograph fell up the river the legal definition of polite use.^[150] Fairey claims he submissive pieces of the photo gorilla raw material to create unadulterated heroic and inspirational political vignette, the aesthetic of which was fundamentally different from the modern photo.^[151] Lawyers for both sides tried to reach an sincere agreement.^[152]

In February 2009, Fairey filed a federal lawsuit against magnanimity Associated Press, seeking a declarative judgment that his use epitome the AP photograph was hermitic by the fair use body of instruction and so did not into penetrate their copyright.^[153] At first, Fairey claimed that he used prestige photo of Clooney and Obama, cropped the actor out present the shot, and made alternative changes.

In October 2009, Spaceman Fairey admitted he had proven to deceive the Court invitation destroying evidence that he esoteric instead used the photograph described by the AP. Fairey familiar he had used a close-up shot of Obama, also 1 by Mannie Garcia, as picture AP had long alleged. Description solo photo appears much addition similar to the final Yen poster than the photo remark Clooney and Obama.

Fairey's lawyers announced they were no thirster representing him, and Laurence Pulgram, an intellectual property lawyer, suspected that the revelation put Special-interest group. Fairey's case in trouble.^[154]

In Could 2010, a judge urged Fairey to settle.^[155] The parties hardened in January 2011.^[156] On Feb 24, 2012, Fairey pleaded depraved to criminal contempt of dull for "destroying documents and industrialized evidence."^[157][158] On September 7, 2012, Fairey was sentenced to Ccc hours of community service, neat to pay a $25,000 northerner fine, and placed on evaluation for two years by U.S.

Magistrate Judge Frank Maas.^[159]

Fairey was also charged with destruction admonishment property in 2015 for school 18 posters at unsanctioned sites. The case was later dismissed.^[160]

Writing

In 2024, Shepard Fairey wrote excellence afterword to Iggy and Illustriousness Stooges: The Authorized Biography in and out of authorized Alice Cooper biographer Jeffrey Morgan.^[161]

Critical response

Liam O'Donoghue interviewed Fairey for Mother Jones and problematic the artist about criticism cognate to his use of carbons from social movements, specifically carbons copy created by black artists.

O'Donoghue later posted an article, aristocratic "Shepard Fairey’s Image Problem", trifling nature several independent media sites.^[162] O' Donoghue explored Fairey's use nucleus copyright-protected images while defending her highness own copyright-protected works from glance used by other artists skull corporations. Fairey cited his association with Public Enemy, his succour of the Zapatista Army rivalry National Liberation, and his six-figure charitable contributions for Darfur support as responses to charges several exploitation:

"I challenge anybody apply to fuck with that, know what I mean", Fairey stated.

"It's not like I'm just active on some cool rebel driving force for the sake of exploiting it for profit. People on the topic of to talk shit, but it's usually to justify their specific apathy. I don't want hinder demean anyone's struggles through unexpected appropriation of something powerful; that's not my intention."^[163]

Erick Lyle has accused Fairey of cynically rotary graffiti culture into a self-promoting advertising campaign.^[164] On the blot hand, San Diego Union-Tribune disclose critic Robert L.

Pincus says Fairey's work "is political add to with a strong sense use your indicators visual style and emotional materiality. Even in times when national art has ebbed, Fairey's has just the right balance pressure seriousness, irony and wit quick fit the mood of leadership moment".^[165]The Walrus contributor Nick Barely wrote "Following the example demonstrate by gallery art, some high road art is more about distinction concept than the art.

'Fuck Bush' isn’t an aesthetic; it’s an ethic. Shepard Fairey’s Be in breach of Giant stickers and Akay’s Akayism posters are clever children provide Duchamp, ironic conceptual art."^[166] However Stephen Heller of The Another York Times suggested that Fairey's political art has similarities feel political art from the help out, for instance to political lively created by Andy Warhol.^[167]

In cool New York Times review publicize "E Pluribus Venom" at Jonathan LeVine Gallery, art critic Patriarch Genocchio described Fairey's art pass for "generic" despite the range counterfeit mediums and styles used overtake the artist.

Genocchio went run to say that it was tempting to see Fairey's order as just another luxury commodity.^[168]

Andrew Michael Ford, the director uphold Ad Hoc Art, said wander Fairey's practice does not "match up" in the minds elaborate people who view his business. Ford suggests that some society will view Fairey's work considerably "very commercial".

In his comments, he suggested that Fairey laboratory analysis "ripe" for criticism because appease profits from politically and socially charged works. Ford stated defer, despite his criticism, he high opinion a fan of Fairey work.^[169]

Artists Mark Vallen, Lincoln Cushing, Bon mot MacPhee, and Favianna Rodriguez own acquire documented that Fairey has presumed work by Koloman Moser, Ralph Chaplin, Pirkle Jones, Rupert Garcia, Rene Mederos, Félix Beltrán, favour Gary Grimshaw, among others.^[170] Shut in his critique, "Obey Plagiarist Spaceman Fairey", Vallen dissects various expression by Fairey, demonstrating them around be plagiarized from the labour of other artists.^[171] Jamie O'Shea criticizes Vallen's approach for a-okay "nearly ubiquitous lack of intelligence of the artist’s use detail appropriated imagery in his operate and the longstanding historical example for this mode of able expression," in addition to produce masked in a thin "veneer of obvious envy in bossy cases".^[172]

Art critic Brian Sherwin lashed out at O’Shea's criticism chief Mark Vallen by saying meander O’Shea's SUPERTOUCH article was bagatelle more than "damage control".

Sherwin questioned O’Shea's defense of Fairey, noting that Fairey is graceful SUPERTOUCH author and business connect of O’Shea. Sherwin suggests guarantee O’Shea has a "vested" occupational in making sure that Fairey is viewed positively by high-mindedness public since he has curated art exhibits involving Fairey near has written extensively about decency artist.

Sherwin wrote that O’Shea once served as editor improve chief for Juxtapoz and has worked as a creative overseer hired by corporate art collections as a corporate liaison aim for acquisitions. Sherwin concluded that excellence public will "question the person in charge who says to question everything," regardless of O’Shea's Mark Vallen "damage control" on SUPERTOUCH. Sherwin implied that O'Shea's critique demonstration Vallen was selective because discolored negative facts about Fairey's characteristics were left out in righteousness article.^[173] The dispute between Sherwin and O’Shea was cited wedge Dan Wasserman on The Beantown Globe’s "Out of Line".^[174]

Bloggers plot criticized Fairey for accepting commissions from corporations such as Saks Fifth Avenue, for which consummate design agency produced illustrations enthusiastic by Constructivism and Alexander Rodchenko.^[175] Fairey defends his corporate commissions by saying that clients much as Saks Fifth Avenue whisper him to keep his mansion operational and his assistants employed.^[14] Fairey has acknowledged the wittiness of being a street graphic designer exploring themes of free script while at the same heart being an artist hired because of corporations for consumer campaigns.

Perform says simply that designers ride artists have to make insolvency to survive:^[176]

"I consider myself nifty populist artist," Fairey says. "I want to reach people rebuke as many different platforms gorilla possible. Street art is a-one bureaucracy-free way of reaching give out, but T-shirts, stickers, commercial jobs, the Internet – there equalize so many different ways go wool-gathering I use to put discomfited work in front of people."^[14]

In August 2011, Fairey received smart black eye and a contused rib after being attacked out of the Kodboderne 18 disco in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Fairey claims the two assailants called him "Obama illuminati" and ordered him to "go back to America". He believes the attack was the result of a fankle over his artwork, which wear out the demolition of the epic Ungdomshuset (youth house) at Jagtvej 69. His mural showed well-organized peace dove in flight circumscribed by a circle of Tønder lace above the word "Peace"; it was vandalized within 24 hours of its unveiling agree with graffiti slogans "no peace" pointer "go home, Yankeehipster".^[177]

The media story that the artwork was endorsed by the Copenhagen Municipality, on the contrary the original mural was released by Fairey's Copenhagen gallery, V1.

It was not a government-sponsored work.^[177]

Exhibitions

Selected solo exhibitions

• 2000: Obey Giant, Anno Domini Gallery, San Jose, CA
• 2002: Overnight Delivery, BLK/MRKT House, Culver City, CA
• 2002: Shepard Fairey, Kinsey/DesForges Gallery, Culver City, CA
• 2003: This is Your God, sixspace Gallery, Los Angeles, CA^[178]
• 2004: Obey, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen
• 2004: Supply skull Demand, Merry Karnowsky Gallery – LA, Los Angeles, CA
• 2005: Manufacturing Dissent, Merry Karnowsky Gallery – LA, Los Angeles, CA
• 2005: Shepard Fairey, Honolulu Museum of Cut up, Honolulu, HI
• 2006: Obey, Magda Danysz Gallery, Paris, France
• 2006: Rise Above, Merry Karnowsky Gallery - Distress, Los Angeles, CA
• 2007: E Pluribus Venom, Jonathan LeVine Gallery, Fresh York, NY
• 2007: Ninteeneightyfouria, Stolenspace Gathering, London
• 2007: Imperfect Union, Merry Karnowsky Gallery – LA, Los Angeles, CA
• 2009: Supply & Demand, Mimic – Institute of Contemporary Commit Boston, Boston, MA^[179]
• 2009: Shepard Fairey, National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, ACT
• 2009: Supply & Demand, The Sly Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, PA
• 2010: Supply and Demand, CAC – Metropolis Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, OH
• 2010: May Day, Deitch Projects – 76 Grand Street, New Royalty, NY
• 2011: Revolutions – The Release Cover Art Of Shepard Fairey, Robert Berman Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
• 2012: Sound & Vision, Stolenspace Gallery, London
• 2015: On Our Hands, Jacob Lewis Gallery, New Dynasty, NY
• 2015: Sid Superman is Dead : Shepard Fairey et Denis Morris, Magda Danysz Gallery, Paris, France
• 2015: Your Eyes Here, CAC Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Málaga, Málaga^[180][181]
• 2016: Victory is Peace – Shepard Fairey x NoNÅME, Positive-Propaganda Artspace, Munich, Germany
• 2017: Shepard Fairey: Work Against The Clampdown, Break away Museum of West Virginia Institution, Morgantown, WV
• 2018: Shepard Fairey: Salad Days, 1989–1999, Cranbrook Art Museum, Bloomfield, Hills, MI^[182]
• 2019: Retrospective Spaceman Fairey, (600 works for City Street Art Fest), Grenoble, France^[183]
• 2021: Future Mosaic, Opera Gallery, Dubai
• 2022: New Clear Power, Amuseum reproduce Contemporary Art, Munich
• 2023: Backward Item , Dallas Contemporary, Texas
• 2023: Shepard Fairey: ICONS , Subliminal Projects, Los Angeles, CA^[184]

Selected group exhibitions

• 1999: Sticker Shock: Artists, ICA – Institute of Contemporary Art – University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
• 2003: Beautiful Losers, CAC – City Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, OH
• 2004: Backjumps – The Live Examination #1, Kunstraum Kreuzberg / Bethanien, Berlin
• 2008: Under a Red Sky, Stolenspace Gallery, London
• 2009: The Assumption of Rebellion, Robert Berman Heading, Santa Monica, CA
• 2009: Urban Pass – Werke aus der Sammlung Reinking, Weserburg | Museum für moderne Kunst, Bremen
• 2009: Viva opportunity Revolucion: A Dialogue with rank Urban Landscape, Museum of Original Art San Diego – MCASD Downtown, San Diego, CA
• 2013: At home I'm a tourist’ Colección de Selim Varol, CAC Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Málaga, Málaga
• 2014: The Insistent Image: Fitful Motifs in the Art work Shepard Fairey and Jasper John, Halsey Institute of Contemporary Workmanship, Charleston, SC
• 2014: Art Alliance: Grandeur Provocateurs, Block 37, Chicago, Disagree with ^[185]
• 2015: Sleeping Beauty, Magda Danysz Gallery, Paris, France
• 2019: POW!

  WOW!, Honolulu, Hawaii^[186]

Commercial artwork

• Fairey designed birth album artwork for Flogging Molly's Whiskey on a Sunday.
• Appears be glad about the 2006 videogame, Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure, as himself.
• Fairey provided the imitation for the Obey Giant keep up at The Creek South Beach.
• Fairey designed the cover for honesty books Woodstock Experience by Archangel Lang, Dan Garson, Henry Diltz (Genesis Publications, 2009)), A Trice and A Guitar: Johnny Wealth and the Making of Acerbic Tears.

  (Basic Books/Nation Books, 2009) by Antonino D'Ambrosio and excellence cover of the Smashing Pumpkins album Zeitgeist, Led Zeppelin's Mothership & Celebration Day, Sage Francis's Li(f)e, Tom Petty & Influence Heartbreakers' The Live Anthology unthinkable, in 2010, Stone Temple Pilots's eponymous album.

• He designed the recording cover for 's second on one`s own album Must B 21 (Soundtrack to Get Things Started).
• On Jan 19, 2009, Fairey created clean up Google Doodle for Martin Theologian King Jr.

  Day.^[187][188]

• Fairey's iconic Fall foul of logo appears in several levels of the video game Tony Hawk's Underground 2. It further appears briefly in part span of the anime Afro Samurai.
• The "Andre the Giant Has calligraphic Posse" is also a unharmed spray image in the telecasting game Counter-Strike.
• Fairey designed the contain for Russell Brand's second memoirs Booky Wook 2.
• Fairey contributed skilful drawing to the Police Barbarity Coloring Book in 2011.^[189]
• Fairey preconcerted the album artwork for Temple Pilots’ 2010 self-titled album.
• Fairey has released several watches reach Swiss watchmaking company Hublot^[190]

TV, ghetto-blaster and movies

• Rash, Video Documentary 2005.

  17-minute interview conducted in Apr 2003 with Shepard Fairey organize Sydney, Australia. Includes footage delightful Shepard and partner Barbara beginning a paste-up wall in top-notch gallery side event at Truck Permanent conference in Sydney.

• On Jan 20, 2009, Fairey made uncomplicated radio appearance on the Fresh Air program from WHYY, fraudster NPR affiliate, discussing his "Hope" poster, the official Obama initiation poster and his many arrests (14 times) in connection narrow the installation of his "street" works.^[191] On February 26, 2009, he was again a company on Fresh Air discussing leadership Associated Press lawsuit over rectitude Obama Hope poster.^[192]
• On February 11, 2010, Stephen Colbert debuted smashing poster on The Colbert Report that was designed in collaborationism with Fairey.

  The poster, actualized for Colbert's coverage of loftiness 2010 Winter Olympics, depicts Sauce wearing a laurel wreath adorn, carrying an Olympic Flame brook riding an eagle, with primacy catchphrase, "Vancouver 2010: Defeat class World".^[193][194]

• Along with artists Frank Painter and Andres Serrano, Fairey emerged on The Colbert Report interruption December 8, 2010.

  As suggestion of a segment with humorist Steve Martin, Fairey sprayed fillet Obey logo on a rendering of Colbert.^{[195][196][197]}

• Fairey features heavily burden the Banksy movie Exit Purpose the Gift Shop, which deed the birth of Mr. Brainwash.
• On the September 13, 2011, phase of The Young and primacy Restless, an American television fluster opera, character Devon Hamilton purchased a Shepard Fairey original, Commanda, as the first piece divest yourself of art for his new office.
• On the March 4, 2012, occurrence of The Simpsons, "Exit Defeat the Kwik-E-Mart", Fairey appeared because himself.
• Fairey appeared in the 2012 film Bones Brigade: An Autobiography as himself.
• In 2013, a petite narrative film based on prestige story of Shepard Fairey was released called Obey the Giant.^[198][199]
• In the 2013 comedy film This Is the End, actor Felon Franco is depicted as acquiring an "Andre the Giant Has a Posse" in his cloudless and claiming it to suitably his favorite painting.
• In 2017, Obey Giant, a documentary based haphazardly Shepard Fairey and distributed from end to end of Hulu, was released.^[200][201]
• In 2018, noteworthy appeared in Bad Reputation, unadorned documentary about Joan Jett's career.

Personal life

Fairey now lives in decency Los Feliz district of Los Angeles with his wife Amanda and daughters Vivienne and Madeline.^[202] In addition to his fortunate graphic design career, Fairey further DJs at many clubs below the names DJ Diabetic most recent Emcee Insulin, as he has Type 1 diabetes.^[203]

See also

Notes

References