United States
• 1970
6049 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 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.
Nationality
Categories
Themes
Greyson Fletcher - The Harmony of Form and Style
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 61 x 45 x 0.1 cm Print - 24 x 17.7 x 0 inch
$417
Wetland Powers
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Painting - 61 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 24 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch
$9,405
Only the Finest Poison HPM 3/6
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Painting - 61 x 46 cm Painting - 24 x 18.1 inch
$9,405
Skull of a black planet
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 33 x 25.4 x 0.2 cm Print - 13 x 10 x 0.1 inch
$476
" The world is in our hands " (HOLIDAY PRINT 2015)
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 61 x 45 cm Print - 24 x 17.7 inch
$1,488
Revolutionary woman
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 91 x 61 x 0.2 cm Print - 35.8 x 24 x 0.1 inch
$2,964
Torn Icon Letterpress
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 33 x 26 x 0.1 cm Print - 13 x 10.2 x 0 inch
$357
Mujer Fatale (Large format)
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 105 x 76 x 0.2 cm Print - 41.3 x 29.9 x 0.1 inch
$5,357
Peace Fingers
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Design - 30.5 x 17.5 x 5.6 cm Design - 12 x 6.9 x 2.2 inch
$1,905
Make Art Not War - Lithographie offset signée
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Design - 91 x 61 x 0.1 cm Design - 35.8 x 24 x 0 inch
$214
Bee Geometric (Dark)
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 61 x 46 x 0.2 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch
$506
Future is Equal HPM 2/6
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Painting - 61 x 46 cm Painting - 24 x 18.1 inch
$9,405
Deceit and disruption 6/6
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Painting - 61 x 46 x 1 cm Painting - 24 x 18.1 x 0.4 inch
$9,762
Raise The Level HPM 4/6
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Painting - 61 x 91 cm Painting - 24 x 35.8 inch
$14,881
JUSTICE WOMAN 3/6
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Painting - 61 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 24 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch
$10,119
WRONG PATH 6/6
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Painting - 61 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 24 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch
$11,786
Grace and Power Under Pressure (Blue)
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 46 x 61 x 0.5 cm Print - 18.1 x 24 x 0.2 inch
$536
Peace Guard 2 HPM 5/6
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Painting - 61 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 24 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch
$15,358
Scratch on the Wire
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 60.96 x 60.96 x 0.2 cm Print - 24 x 24 x 0.1 inch
$536
Bias by numbers HPM
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Painting - 104 x 76 x 1 cm Painting - 40.9 x 29.9 x 0.4 inch
$20,834
Lively up yourself
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 49.53 x 40.64 x 1 cm Print - 19.5 x 16 x 0.4 inch
$417
Right Track (Dance Floor Riot)
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 30 x 30 x 1 cm Print - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$214
Presidential Seal (Dance Floor Riot)
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 30 x 30 x 1 cm Print - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$357
New Wave Surfer (Dance Floor Riot)
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 30 x 30 x 1 cm Print - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$476
Bomber (Party At The Moontower)
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 30 x 30 x 1 cm Print - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$476
Creativity, Equity, Justice
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 46 x 61 x 0.1 cm Print - 18.1 x 24 x 0 inch
$452
Studio of Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Discover the movements linked to Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Discover similar artists
Erró
Iceland
Bert Stern
United States
Hervé Di Rosa
France
Jef Aérosol
France
Karl Lagasse
France
Ben
France
Christophe Charbonnel
France
Bernard Pras
France
Posts about Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Discover our selections of works by artists
Need help finding your favorite? Consult our selection pages made for you.
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.