Works by Shepard Fairey at Sotheby's
Shepard Fairey Biography
A celebrated member of the contemporary Street Art movement, Shepard Fairey rose to prominence in the 1990s with his “Andre the Giant Has a Posse” campaign. Later, the self-styled populist artist gained considerable renown for his “Hope” poster, which became the battle cry for President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign. Fairey has become eponymous with political portraiture, which boldly illustrates recurring themes of power, justice, propaganda and corruption.
Fairey’s studio, OBEY GIANT, produces prints, stickers and books—all marketed with the tongue-in-cheek slogan: “Manufacturing Quality Dissent Since 1989.” Fairey’s work ranges across mediums, but it is his prints which have garnered the praise to elevate him to the verge of punditry. Art as politics is nothing new, but Fairey’s mass-marketed brand and street-graffiti-come-pop style results in highly coveted and instantly recognizable art.
Shepard Fairey’s iconic works can be found in the collections of MoMA, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum and more.
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