Shepard Fairey

​Shepard Fairey was born in Charleston, South Carolina in 1970. He is a contemporary street artist, graphic designer, social activist, illustrator and founder of OBEY Clothing, who emerged from the skateboarding scene. He hopes that through his art, he can provoke conversation about important social issues and spark an array of emotions. His most recognized work is his Barack Obama Hope poster which he created during the 2008 presidential election.

Fairey steeps his ideology and iconography in the self–empowerment of those who refuse to be manipulated by the machine of manufactured consent. With biting sarcasm verging on reverse psychology, he goads viewers, using the imperative “obey” to take heed of the propagandists out to bend the world to their agendas.

​His pieces are collected by The New Museum of Design, the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Modern Art in San Diego, Museum of Modern Art in New York City, Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, Harvard Print Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

He also has exhibited his work all over the world, from Australia to South Korea. He currently lives and works in Los Angeles, California.