Shepard Fairey American, b. 1970

Shepard Fairey, born in 1970 in Charleston, South Carolina, is an American contemporary artist, graphic designer, and activist best known for his influential role in the global street art movement. Rising to prominence in the late 1980s, Fairey gained international attention with his Obey Giant campaign, which began as a simple sticker featuring the wrestler André the Giant and evolved into a worldwide visual phenomenon. Through repetition and bold imagery, Fairey challenges viewers to question authority, propaganda, and the pervasive influence of mass media in public space.

Educated at the Rhode Island School of Design, Fairey developed a distinctive visual language rooted in political propaganda, Soviet constructivism, pop art, and punk culture. His work is characterized by strong graphic compositions, limited color palettes—often red, black, and cream—and the use of iconic symbols and slogans. Fairey’s practice spans street art, screen printing, murals, painting, and graphic design, allowing him to blur the boundaries between fine art, commercial art, and activism.

Fairey achieved mainstream recognition in 2008 with his HOPE poster created for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, which became one of the most recognizable political images of the 21st century. Beyond electoral politics, his work addresses issues such as freedom of expression, social justice, environmental responsibility, anti-consumerism, and human rights. Text plays a central role in his art, drawing from political theory, philosophy, music, and countercultural movements, reinforcing his message-driven approach.

Over the past three decades, Shepard Fairey has exhibited extensively in galleries, museums, and public spaces around the world. His large-scale murals can be found in major cities across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Both celebrated and controversial, Fairey remains a defining figure of contemporary urban art, using visual culture as a tool for awareness, resistance, and social change.