Jamie Reid (born 16 January 1947 in London, United Kingdom) is an English artist and anarchist with connections to the Situationists. His work, featuring letters cut from newspaper headlines in the style of a ransom note, came close to defining the image of punk rock, particularly in the UK. His best known works include the Sex Pistols album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols and the singles "Anarchy in the UK", "God Save The Queen" (based on a Cecil Beaton photograph of Queen Elizabeth II, with an added safety pin through her nose and swastikas in her eyes, described by Sean O'Hagan of The Observer as "the single most iconic image of the punk era"), "Pretty Vacant" and "Holidays in the Sun". He was educated at John Ruskin Grammar School in Croydon. With Malcolm McLaren, he took part in a sit-in at Croydon Art School.

Reid produced a series of screenprints in 1997, the twentieth anniversary of the birth of punk rock. Ten years later on the thirtieth anniversary of the release of God "Save the Queen," Reid produced a new print entitled "Never Trust a Punk," based on his original design which was exhibited at London Art Fair in the Islington area of the city " ". Reid has also produced artwork for the world music fusion band Afro Celt Sound System.

Jamie Reid

British

Shepard Fairey is an American graphic artist and social activist who is part of the Street Art movement along with other artists including Banksy and Mr.Brainwash. Fairey blurs the boundary between traditional and commercial art through type and image, communicating his brand of social critique via prints, murals, stickers, and posters in public spaces. “Art is not always meant to be decorative or soothing, in fact, it can create uncomfortable conversations and stimulate uncomfortable emotions,” he stated. Born on February 15, 1970 in Charleston, South Carolina, Fairey graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1992 where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in illustration. In 1989 Fairey created the André the Giant Has a Posse sticker campaign, featuring a stylized image of the wrestler André the Giant. This project  was the foundation for his seminal Obey series, which helped to push Fairey into the public spotlight. The artist is perhaps best known for his Hope (2008) campaign, which portrays a portrait of then-presidential candidate Barack Obama, in red, white, and blue. In 2017, the artist created a series of three posters— featuring portraits of culturally diverse women, again using a red, white, and blue color scheme—in response to the xenophobic rhetoric of President-elect Donald Trump. Fairey currently lives and works in Los Angeles, CA. His works are included in the collections of the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Shepard Fairey is an American graphic artist, activist, and pivotal figure in the Street Art movement, celebrated for his bold visual language and politically charged imagery. Alongside artists such as [Banksy](https://fairart.com/artists/banksy/1229) and [Mr Brainwash](https://fairart.com/artists/mr.-brainwash/1274), Fairey helped shift street art into mainstream cultural consciousness through murals, stickers, prints, and public interventions that merge typography, propaganda aesthetics, and social critique. Born in Charleston, South Carolina in 1970, he studied illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design, graduating in 1992. Fairey first gained widespread attention with his 1989 André the Giant Has a Posse sticker campaign, which later evolved into his landmark Obey series. This project established the foundation of his visual identity and paved the way for his global influence. He is perhaps best known for Hope (2008), the red, white, and blue portrait of Barack Obama that became an iconic symbol of the presidential campaign and one of the most recognisable political images of the twenty-first century. In 2017, he produced a series of posters featuring diverse women in response to xenophobic rhetoric during the U.S. election cycle. Fairey’s works are held in major institutions including the Smithsonian, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Victoria and Albert Museum, reflecting the enduring power of his artistic and activist legacy.

## About Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Shepard Fairey’s artistic practice grew out of skateboarding culture, punk design, and DIY creative ethos. After his time at the Rhode Island School of Design, he continued to expand the reach and scale of his work through public space interventions and independent printmaking. His Obey campaign, derived from the André the Giant sticker, explored themes of power, influence, and the psychology of propaganda, encouraging viewers to question authority and examine how imagery shapes public perception.

Throughout his career, Fairey has blended commercial, graphic, and fine art aesthetics, embracing both street-level distribution and gallery exhibition. His posters, murals, and prints circulate widely, often addressing social justice concerns including environmental activism, anti-war sentiment, racial equality, and human rights. Today he lives and works in Los Angeles, where he continues to produce artworks and large-scale public projects that challenge cultural narratives and promote civic engagement.
