Famous and influential international Los Angeles contemporary graphic designer, illustrator and street artist Shepard Fairey was born on the 15th February, 1970 in Charleston, S.C.  Shepard’s early interest was skateboarding and through this he later ventured into graphics. He then decided to formalize his interest into an academic arena and by 1992 he had formally obtained a BFA (Illustration), from the Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, R.I.

• Shepard Fairey has created political works across several mediums, including stickers, screen-prints, and spray paint. Originating underground, his art has become prominent in both pop culture and the art world, embracing marketing and advertising strategies, as well as political and social activism.

Working in graphic and illustrative art, Shepard developed and later expanded upon his prototype: “Andre the Giant Has a Posse” (…OBEY…)  sticker campaign, which later evolved into his “Obey Giant” campaign which has grown via an international network of collaborators who now replicate his original designs.

• His poster Hope became the 2008 defining image of the for Barack Obama’s Presidential campaign, which captured the message of change with bold colors and clean lines.

Sheppard Fairey’s success is enshrined with many of is works exhibited in numerous public and private institutions, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Washington DC, the Museum of Modern Art, San Diego, Ca.; Holly Solomon Gallery, New York; The New Museum of Design, New York, NY; Institute of Contemporary Art Boston, MA; Harvard Print Museum, Cambridge,  MA.

For further information about Sheppard Fairey, visit his website

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