Shepard Fairey

(American, born 1970)


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.

Most Expensive Artwork Sold at Auction

HOPE, 2008, 2008
Sold price: 950,000 USD

Shepard Fairey Artworks

Shepard Fairey (4,538 results)
Be The Change, 2009

Shepard Fairey

Be The Change, 2009

Baldwin Contemporary

Price on Request

Top Elite, 2011

Shepard Fairey

Top Elite, 2011

Baldwin Contemporary

Price on Request

The D*Face Treatment

Shepard Fairey and D*Face

The D*Face Treatment

Plazzart

1,200 EUR

Open Minds, 2022

Shepard Fairey

Open Minds, 2022

Baldwin Contemporary

Price on Request

Smoke'em, 2015

Shepard Fairey

Smoke'em, 2015

Plazzart

Price on Request

Behind you HPM, 2009

Shepard Fairey

Behind you HPM, 2009

Plazzart

16,080 EUR

Imperial Glory, 2011

Shepard Fairey

Imperial Glory, 2011

Plazzart

1,931 EUR