Shepard Fairey, known widely for his brand OBEY Giant and his poster for the 2008 Barack Obama HOPE presidential campaign, is one of the most influential street artists alive. Fairey’s work is deeply political and he frequently confronts issues of human rights, equality, and authority while maintaining an incredible signature style of layered collage-like color, propaganda-inspired forms, pop art, portraiture, and bright colors.
Born on February 15, 1970, in Charleston, South Carolina, Fairey developed an early interest in art, skateboarding, and punk rock—these subcultures heavily influenced his street art style and social activism. Fairey attended the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), one of the top art schools in the world, and during his undergraduate career in the early 1990s created a sticker of wrestler Andre the Giant in high contrast with the words OBEY underneath. He stuck the image in streets all over the world, and the image eventually evolved into a cultural phenomenon of a brand meant to question authority and propaganda. Fairey says that OBEY is an experiment in phenomenology, or encouraging people to question the meaning and power of imagery in public spaces. The OBEY clothing brand followed the street art movement and was established in 2001.
Fairey designing an OBEY mural (source: the ab factory)
In 2008, Fairey passed another landmark in his career, gaining international acclaim for his Hope poster for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. The red, white, and blue image of Obama, overlaid with the word HOPE, became a symbol of optimism and change. The artwork transcended politics to become a global emblem of empowerment and civic engagement. This portrait is in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.
Obama HOPE poster, offset lithograph, 2008
Fairey’s work has been exhibited in major institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Yet he remains true to the energy of street art by staying provocative and democratic and continuing to fight for the causes he cares about. Today, Shepard Fairey stands as one of the most influential artists of his generation—bridging the gap between counterculture and mainstream, activism and design. Through his art, he continues to challenge systems of power, provoke thought, and inspire a global audience to question authority.
“A reset is no longer optional. It must come from below — through art, through voices unafraid, through new networks of resistance and connection.”
– Shepard Fairey
This past weekend, Tonya Turner Carroll and Michael Carroll attended the opening of the groundbreaking show Triple Trouble in London, featuring Shepard Fairey, Space Invader, and Damien Hirst. Damien Hirst is known for his provocative installations featuring unconventional materials like formaldehyde, while Space Invader is known for their geometric mosaic alien characters in almost every city across 87 countries.
Triple Trouble exhibition in London featuring Shepard Fairey, Damien Hirst, and Space Invader
Author: Sophie Carroll