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.


Shepard Fairey (Obey)

American

Kai & Sunny (born 1975 and 1977, respectively) are a UK based artist duo. They both graduated from the Epsom School of Art in Surrey, United Kingdom with degrees in Art and Design. They have collaborated with author David Mitchell, designer Alexander McQueen, artist Shepard Fairey and have won numerous accolades, including a 2012 D&AD Design Award, a 2015 LIA award and a 2019 Addy award. Works by Kai & Sunny have been exhibited internationally at institutions such as Haunch of Venison and are included in the Victoria & Albert Museum Print Archive Collection.

The duo recently completed their largest painting to date measuring 4m x 2.5m (158 x 99inches) at the prestigious indoor skate park in Los Angels owned by Eric Koston and Steve Berra.

Past exhibitions include Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles; Stolen Space Gallery, London; Haunch of Venison, London; the Southbank Centre, London; Pertwee Anderson & Gold, London; Subliminal Projects, Los Angeles; Jonathan LeVine Gallery, New York and Colette, Paris.

Currently their work embraces the concept of change; flowing deconstructed landscapes are continuously moving taking you from one place to another. Creating dynamic movement through line and color shifts representing a driving action or force. The lines in the works push and pull each other as if caught in a state of flux whilst other areas are free and exude speed and energy. The process is a methodical building of thin intricate lines upon each other. The result showing powerful kinetic compositions while a delicacy remains. The lines can change your perception of the shape while the foreground and background invite you to float in-between the two.