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

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

United States • 1970  6115 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, Damaged Times, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$435

Print, Valor And Grace, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$543

Print, Corporate-Welfare, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$500

Print, Just Future Rising, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$362

Print, New clear power, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$483

Print, Peace and justice summit, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$483

Print, Sadistic Dog Walker (Red), Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 83 x 61 cm Print - 32.7 x 24 inch

$483

Print, Earth Crisis Letterpress, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 42 x 35 cm Print - 16.5 x 13.8 inch

$423

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

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$399

Print, Keep it Underground, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$423

Print, Damaged Printing Press, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$242

Print, Raise The Caliber, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$483

Print, Wake Up! (Cream), Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$543

Print, Earth crisis drop, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$543

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

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$459

Print, Modest Mouse, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$266

Print, Adopt the arts, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$453

Print, Ocean Today Desert Tomorrow, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$405

Print, Cultivate Justice (Blue), Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$350

Print, Time to move on, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$543

Print, Push, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$302

Print, Sadistic Dog Walker (Blue), Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 83 x 61 cm Print - 32.7 x 24 inch

$483

Print, Rise above bird, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 25 x 33 cm Print - 9.8 x 13 inch

$362

Print, Lively Up Yourself, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 48 x 41 cm Print - 18.9 x 16.1 inch

$326

Print, Flower Power (Red), Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$423

Print, Flower Power (Blue), Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$423

Print, Ideal Power Vienna, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 43 x 55 cm Print - 16.9 x 21.7 inch

$483

Print, Damaged Proud Parents, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$242

Print, Damaged Learn to Obey, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$242

Print, Bad Brains Fully Band, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$483

Print, SXSW, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$423

Print, Rise Above, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$543

Print, Oh Susannah, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$362

Print, Snoop D-O Double G, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$423

Print, Rose Soldier, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$543

Print, Suburban Pressure, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$543

Print, Tunnel Vision (Standard Gold), Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$350

Print, Black Earth Society, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$435

Print, Reimagine, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$302

Print, Op-Art Icon (Green), Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$362

Print, Sunset & Vine Billboard, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

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

$483

Print, Music Note Hi-Fi Stereo Records, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 30 x 30 x 0.3 cm Print - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

$1,087

Print, My florist is a dick, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 60.96 x 45.72 cm Print - 24 x 18 inch

$1,811

Print, Lenin Stamp, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 95 x 71 cm Print - 37.4 x 28 inch

$1,962

Print, Earth Crisis, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 102 x 76 cm Print - 40.2 x 29.9 inch

$2,113

Print, A champion of justice Ruth Bader, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 60.96 x 45.72 x 0.01 cm Print - 24 x 18 x 0 inch

$3,381

Print, Vote, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 110 x 90 x 1 cm Print - 43.3 x 35.4 x 0.4 inch

$5,676

Print, I See Static Blue, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 45.7 cm Print - 24 x 18 inch

$1,800

Print, Zapata (HPM Teal), Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 66 x 50.8 x 0.6 cm Print - 26 x 20 x 0.25 inch

$6,000

Print, Shadowplay Print Orange, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 24 x 18 cm Print - 9.4 x 7.1 inch

$2,415

Print, Monkey Pod (Red & Gold VSE), Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 52.1 x 67.3 cm Print - 20.5 x 26.5 inch

$12,000

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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.