Shepard Fairey (Obey)
  • Biography
  • Artworks
  • Studio
  • Movements

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

United States • 1970  6114 followers

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

Biography

Shepard Fairey, aka Obey, is an American street artist and graphic designer born in 1970 in Charleston, United States. Passionate about graphic design since the age of 14, he began by creating designs for t-shirts and skateboards. Influenced by Andy Warhol and Alexander Rodchenko, he quickly turned to artistic studies.

In June 2025, Shepard Fairey unveiled a monumental mural on the façade of the Hôtel de Ville in Paris as part of the exhibition “From Paris to Belém: 10 Years of Global Action for the Climate,” commemorating the Paris Agreement. Featuring his trademark red, blue, and cream tones with powerful slogans like “Respect Earth” and “Resist Unite,” the work reinforces his commitment to environmental and political causes. This high-visibility project, combining activism and large-scale public art, further cements his appeal among collectors, institutions, and art lovers seeking pieces with both visual strength and civic impact.

In the late 1980s, with friends from the Rhode Island School of Design, he launched a viral sticker and poster campaign using the image of wrestler André the Giant. Stuck clandestinely in major American cities, these works marked the history of contemporary street art and demonstrated the power of this new form of artistic expression.

Shepard Fairey rose to worldwide fame in 2008 with his iconic HOPE poster, created for Barack Obama, which became a symbol of the presidential campaign. In 2024, he renewed his political commitment by creating the "Forward" poster, in support of Kamala Harris. Inspired by HOPE, this work was used as murals in several key states to encourage voter mobilization. In 2021, Shepard Fairey reimagined Marianne, the symbol of the French Republic, blending street art and political commentary in a powerful tribute to liberty.

Despite legal controversies over intellectual property, Shepard Fairey continues to exhibit his works in the greatest contemporary art museums. In 2022, he created a monumental fresco in Munich, in collaboration with the Department of Art and Culture, to promote renewable energy.

Still active, Shepard Fairey proves that street art is a powerful tool for social and political change, combining art, activism and engagement.

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Print, Environmental Justice, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 inch

CHF 242

Print, Hammer And Fist, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 26 x 33 cm Print - 10.2 x 13 inch

CHF 290

Print, Salad Days, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 inch

CHF 290

Print, Wall Street Public Enemy, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 45.5 x 1 cm Print - 24 x 17.9 x 0.4 inch

CHF 14,520

Painting, Open Minds HPM 2/6, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Painting - 61 x 91 cm Painting - 24 x 35.8 inch

CHF 12,390

Painting, Raise The Level HPM 4/6, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Painting - 61 x 91 cm Painting - 24 x 35.8 inch

CHF 12,100

Print, Mandala, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 72 x 72 x 0.1 cm Print - 28.3 x 28.3 x 0 inch

CHF 813

Print, Untitled 1, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 x 0.1 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 x 0 inch

CHF 1,065

Painting, Peace Guard 2 HPM 5/6, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Painting - 61 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 24 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch

CHF 12,487

Print, Skull of a black planet, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 33 x 25.4 x 0.2 cm Print - 13 x 10 x 0.1 inch

CHF 387

Painting, Bias by numbers HPM, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Painting - 104 x 76 x 1 cm Painting - 40.9 x 29.9 x 0.4 inch

CHF 16,940

Print, Flower Woman (blue), Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 inch

CHF 271

Print, Johnny Ramone Smokin' Strings, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 inch

CHF 339

Print, WK / Shepard Portrait, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 60 x 92 x 1 cm Print - 23.6 x 36.2 x 0.4 inch

CHF 188

Print, Just Angels Rising, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 inch

CHF 261

Print, Environmental Justice, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 inch

CHF 242

Print, Bad Brains '16', Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 x 0.2 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch

CHF 460

Print, Electric Funeral, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 29 x 29 x 0.5 cm Print - 11.4 x 11.4 x 0.2 inch

CHF 387

Print, All City, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 27.5 x 27.5 cm Print - 10.8 x 10.8 inch

CHF 387

Print, Justice woman Red, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 inch

CHF 436

Print, Portrait of Ai Weiwei, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 inch

CHF 920

Print, Creativity, Equity, Justice, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 46 x 61 x 0.1 cm Print - 18.1 x 24 x 0 inch

CHF 368

Print, Burn Baby Burn, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 33 x 25.5 x 0.2 cm Print - 13 x 10 x 0.1 inch

CHF 421

Print, Tools of trade, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 inch

CHF 871

Print, Natas, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 82 x 20 x 1.5 cm Print - 32.3 x 7.9 x 0.6 inch

CHF 1,162

Print, Quality Discord, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 30 x 30 x 1 cm Print - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

CHF 194

Print, Peace and Freedom, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 inch

CHF 290

Print, Wetland Powers, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 inch

CHF 290

Painting, Eyes Open HPM 5/6, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Painting - 61 x 46 cm Painting - 24 x 18.1 inch

CHF 8,421

Print, Cultivate Harmony, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 60.96 x 30.48 x 0.1 cm Print - 24 x 12 x 0 inch

CHF 387

Print, Eyes Of The King Verdict, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 x 0.2 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch

CHF 339

Painting, Ali, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Ali

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Painting - 62 x 46 x 3 cm Painting - 24.4 x 18.1 x 1.2 inch

CHF 9,389

Print, Metallica Helping Hands, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 inch

CHF 242

Print, Alternative Facts, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 61 cm Print - 24 x 24 inch

CHF 242

Print, Long Live The People, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 inch

CHF 242

Print, Musack Terry Hall tribute, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 x 1 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 x 0.4 inch

CHF 348

Print, Barb Wire Dove - Red, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 33.02 x 25.4 x 0.2 cm Print - 13 x 10 x 0.1 inch

CHF 436

Print, Barb Wire Dove - Blue, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 33.02 x 25.4 x 0.2 cm Print - 13 x 10 x 0.1 inch

CHF 436

Print, Factory stacks (earth first), Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 x 0.2 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch

CHF 363

Print, Post Punk Flower - Black, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 x 0.2 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch

CHF 460

Print, People's Discontent, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 46 x 61 x 0.2 cm Print - 18.1 x 24 x 0.1 inch

CHF 397

Print, The Last Mountain, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 46 x 61 x 0.2 cm Print - 18.1 x 24 x 0.1 inch

CHF 445

Print, Obey with caution, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 33 x 25.4 x 0.1 cm Print - 13 x 10 x 0 inch

CHF 436

Print, The High Cost Of Free Speech, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 60.96 x 60.96 x 1 cm Print - 24 x 24 x 0.4 inch

CHF 483

Print, Resurrectionem Ex-Mortuis, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 17.8 x 17.8 x 0.5 cm Print - 7 x 7 x 0.2 inch

CHF 174

Print, Icon collage (top), Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 35.56 x 27.94 x 0.2 cm Print - 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch

CHF 436

Painting, War By Numbers VSE, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Painting - 67.5 x 52 x 1 cm Painting - 26.6 x 20.5 x 0.4 inch

CHF 7,647

Print, Ian Curtis - Heart and Soul, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 x 0.2 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch

CHF 421

Painting, Power and Equality, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Painting - 61 x 46 x 1 cm Painting - 24 x 18.1 x 0.4 inch

CHF 7,066

Painting, Just Angel Rising 3/6, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Painting - 62 x 46 cm Painting - 24.4 x 18.1 inch

CHF 7,647

Print, Psychedelic Andre Pinnacle, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 18 x 18 cm Print - 7.1 x 7.1 inch

CHF 319

Print, Power and Equality / Dove, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 inch

CHF 387

Print, Peace goddess, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 35.56 x 27.94 x 0.2 cm Print - 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch

CHF 339

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Need to know more?
What is Shepard Fairey best known for?

Shepard Fairey is best known for his "Obey Giant" street art campaign and the iconic "Hope" poster created for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. His work blends graffiti, pop art, and political messaging.

Whose face is on the Obey logo?

The face on the Obey logo is based on André the Giant, a famous French professional wrestler and actor. Street artist Shepard Fairey created the design in 1989, turning André's image into an iconic symbol of street art culture.

What makes Shepard Fairey unique?

Shepard Fairey stands out for blending street art with political activism, notably through his iconic "OBEY" and "HOPE" posters. His bold graphic style and use of propaganda aesthetics make his work instantly recognizable.

What does OBEY mean Shepard Fairey?

OBEY is the iconic street art campaign created by Shepard Fairey in 1989, inspired by the film "They Live." It critiques propaganda, consumerism, and authority, encouraging viewers to question societal messages and power structures.