United States
• 1970
6024 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.
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The Tranquility of Solitude (Paul Weller)
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 61 x 46 x 0.2 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch
£306
Bad Brains Bowery and Bleecker
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 46 x 61 x 0.2 cm Print - 18.1 x 24 x 0.1 inch
£394
My Florist is a Dick
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 61 x 46 x 0.05 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 x 0 inch
£341
Force of Nature Letterpress
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 33 x 25 x 0.1 cm Print - 13 x 9.8 x 0 inch
£332
Wetland Powers
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Painting - 61 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 24 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch
£6,909
Only the Finest Poison HPM 3/6
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Painting - 61 x 46 cm Painting - 24 x 18.1 inch
£6,909
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
£350
" The world is in our hands " (HOLIDAY PRINT 2015)
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 61 x 45 cm Print - 24 x 17.7 inch
£1,093
Revolutionary woman
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 91 x 61 x 0.2 cm Print - 35.8 x 24 x 0.1 inch
£2,178
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
£3,935
Bee Geometric (Dark)
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 61 x 46 x 0.2 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch
£372
Bee Geometric (Light)
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 61 x 46 x 0.2 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch
£372
Peace Fingers
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Design - 30.5 x 17.5 x 5.6 cm Design - 12 x 6.9 x 2.2 inch
£1,399
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
£157
Deceit and disruption 6/6
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Painting - 61 x 46 x 1 cm Painting - 24 x 18.1 x 0.4 inch
£7,171
JUSTICE WOMAN 3/6
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Painting - 61 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 24 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch
£7,434
WRONG PATH 6/6
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Painting - 61 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 24 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch
£8,658
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
£394
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
£11,282
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
£394
Bias by numbers HPM
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Painting - 104 x 76 x 1 cm Painting - 40.9 x 29.9 x 0.4 inch
£15,304
Lively up yourself
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 49.53 x 40.64 x 1 cm Print - 19.5 x 16 x 0.4 inch
£306
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
£157
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
£262
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
£350
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
£350
Studio of Shepard Fairey (Obey)
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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.