Shepard Fairey Levy H P 4 212 Shepard

Shepard Fairey Levy H. P. 4 2/12

Shepard Fairey • Born February 15, 1970. • American contemporary street artist, graphic designer, activist and illustrator who emerged from the skateboarding scene. • He first became known for his "Andre the Giant Has a Posse" sticker campaign, in which he appropriated images from the comedic supermarket tabloid Weekly World News. • Became widely known during the 2008 U. S. presidential election for Barrack Obama “Hope” poster.

Early Life • Was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina. • Became involved in art in 1984, when he started to place his drawings on skateboards and Tshirts. • Graduated from Idyllwild Arts Academy in California in 1988. • Earned Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from Rhode Island School of Design.

Career • Fairey's first art museum exhibition, entitled Supply & Demand (as was his earlier book), was held in Boston at the Institute of Contemporary Art during the summer of 2009. • The art museum exibition featured more than 250 works in a wide variety of media: screen prints, stencils, stickers, rubylith illustrations, collages, and works on wood, metal and canvas. As a complement to the ICA exhibition, Fairey created public art works around Boston. The artist explains his driving motivation: "The real message behind most of my work is 'question everything'. "

André the Giant Has a Posse • Fairey created the sticker campaign in 1989. • Later evolved into the “obey Giant” campaign, which has grown via international network of collaborators replicating Fairey’s original designs. • the Obey Giant was intended to inspire curiosity and cause the masses to question their relationship with their surroundings.

The “Hope” Poster • Fairey created a series of posters supporting Barack Obama's 2008 candidacy for President of the United States, including the iconic "HOPE" portrait. • The New Yorker art critic Peter Schjeldahl called the poster "the most efficacious American political illustration since 'Uncle Sam Wants You'".

Andre the Giant Hope Poster

Letter from Obama • In February 2008, Fairey received a letter of thanks from Obama for his contribution to the campaign. The letter stated: ▫ I would like to thank you for using your talent in support of my campaign. The political messages involved in your work have encouraged Americans to believe they can change the status-quo. Your images have a profound effect on people, whether seen in a gallery or on a stop sign. I am privileged to be a part of your artwork and proud to have your support. I wish you continued success and creativity. – Barack Obama, February 22, 2008

Homage

Reflection I learned something from making this Power. Point. How Shepard first draw on T-shirts and skateboards taught me how people can get into art and develop from doing such little things first. I realized that probably almost all of famous people starts from doing little things first. I also learned how using other people’s work without consent or awareness of the owner of the work can be really bad and complicated. http: //www. obeygiant. com/ http: //www. artnet. com/artists/shepard-fairey/