Shepard Fairey

“I think that art has the ability to capture people's imaginations and make them think that more is possible”

A leading figure in the world of street art, Shepard Fairey is famous for his epochal counterculture-inspired art. With his unique approach influenced by communist propaganda, he is breaking many rules of contemporary art. Fairey’s art is a brilliant mixture of graffiti, pop art, business art, appropriation art with a playful note of Marxist theory. Born on February 15, 1970, in Charleston, South Carolina in the United States, Frank Shepard Fairey’s beginnings are related to skateboarding counterculture activity that was weirdly associated with rebellion. His claim to fame was meteoric due to his most famous artworks "Andre the Giant Has a Posse" (which later evolved into Obey campaign) and “Hope” poster depicting then U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama. Through social and political criticism, many of his works advocate for awareness and change, arousing interest and asking the viewers to reexamine their hollow contemporary lifestyle. Today, Shepard Fairey’s popularity goes beyond the world of street art. He is truly one of the most prolific artists and social activists working today, a true representation of what it means to be a street artist. His work can be found from abandoned buildings, streets, and empty wall spaces to the most prestigious museums and galleries all around the world. As a leading figure in the world of street and urban art, Shepard Fairey has won numerous awards like Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards Honoree, 2019 Art Wynwood Tony Goldman Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award, 2017 Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), Voices of Courage Media Award, 2017, Rush Arts Honoree, 2017, P.S. ARTS heART Award, 2017, Honorary Doctorate, Pratt Institute, 2015 Tony Goldman Visionary Artist Award, 2014 Orchids & Onions Awards, 2010 Artist Residency for The Contemporary Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2005 Member and Contributor to the LACMA Graphic Arts Council 2003, and many more.