Shepard Fairey

==About Shepard Fairy==
Frank “Shepard Fairey” is a well-known American street artist, graphic designer, and political activist. He became most famous in 2008 for the creation of the “Hope” poster supporting President Barack Obama’s campaign. He is infamous for his messages of political and social change through his art.
Fairey graduated from Idyllwild Arts Academy in 1988 and attended Rhode Island School of Design, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in
Illustration. He started his career by placing his designs on t-shirts and
skate boards. It didn’t take long for Fairey to become involved in street art
as well. He began to create stickers and place them around his college campus.  
Fairey became interested in street art while working at a Providence skateboard shop. Through his experience with the "underground culture" there, he synthesized his art school experience with his ongoing interests and become involved in street art.   
Fairey claims that the message behind his art is “question
everything”.
Fairey was one of the first influential street artists. He
continues to successfully create both street art and gallery art.
== Most Recent Exhibitions ==
PRINTED MATTERS & PUBLIC MATTER SHOW: DETROIT
MAY 22 - AUGUST
15, 2015
2014
SHEPARD FAIREY X POWER & GLORY X THE HALSEY
INSTITUTE'''
MAY 22 - JULY 12,
2014
SHEPARD FAIREY: 50 SHADES OF BLACK
APRIL 16 – MAY 17,
2014
2013
SID: SUPERMAN IS DEAD X SHEPARD FAIREY X DENNIS MORRIS
DECEMBER 13 -
JANUARY 11, 2014
2012
SOUND & VISION X SHEPARD FAIREY X LONDON
OCTOBER 19 -
NOVEMBER 04, 2012
PRINTED MATTERS: DALLAS
SEPTEMBER 15 -
OCTOBER 20, 2012
AMERICANA
AUGUST 25 - SEPTEMBER
7, 2012
HARMONY & DISCORD
MAY 5 - JUNE 16,
2012
2011
YOUR AD HERE
AUGUST 6 -
SEPTEMBER 3, 2011
2010
PRINTED MATTERS
SEPTEMBER 16 -
OCTOBER 9, 2010
MAY
DAY
May 01, 2010 — May
29, 2010
CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER CINCINNATI X SUPPLY AND
DEMAND
February 20, 2010
- August 22, 2010
2009
WARHOL MUSEUM X SUPPLY AND DEMAND
Oct 18, 2009 - Jan
31, 2010
ICA BOSTON X SUPPLY AND DEMAND: 20 YEAR RETROSPECTIVE
FEB. 6 - AUG. 16,
2009
2008
DUALITY OF HUMANITY
September 13th -
October 4th 2008
2007
IMPERFECT UNION
December 1, 2007 -
January 9, 2008
NINETEENEIGTHYFOURIA
Friday 02 -
November 25, 2007
E PLURIBUS VENOM
June 23rd - July
23rd 2007
== Most Famous Works ==
=== Obey Propaganda ===
Fairey created his first widespread project in 1989. He altered an image of Andre
the Giant and added the caption “OBEY”. He claims that at the time the image
had no political message. He wanted his audience to recognize the frequently
placed image and become aware of their surroundings.
“The OBEY campaign attempts to enable people to see clearly
something that is right before their eyes but obscured; things that are so
taken for granted that they are muted by abstract observation […] the OBEY
sticker attempts to stimulate curiosity and bring people to question both the
sticker and their relationship with their surroundings. Because people are not
used to seeing advertisments or propaganda for which the product  or motive is not obvious, frequent and novel
encounters with the sticker provoke thought and possible frustration,
nevertheless revitalizing the viewer’s perception and attention to detail. The
sticker has no meaning but exists only to cause people to react, to contemplate
and search for meaning in the sticker…”  
=== Obama HOPE Poster ===
In 2008 Fairey created the HOPE poster in support of Obama’s
campaign for presidency. Copies of his poster were hung in many cities including
Chicago, the former Senator’s home city. Fairey was later sued by Associated Press
photography for using a photo taken by Mannie Garcia. Fairey lost the case due
to destruction of evidence on his computer.
=== Street Art ===
Through the original Andre the Giant street art piece, Fairey was able to expand the Obey artwork into a worldwide street art campaign with many varieties of artwork, as shown in the example to the right.
Created by: Lucy Niemerg
Category:People
Category:Shepard Fairey
Category:Graffiti