Shepard Fairey, most recently known for his Obama Hope print during the 2008 election, gained his passion from street art. Fairey was born February 15, 1970 in Charleston, South Carolina. He graduated from Idyllwild Arts Academy in 1988 and continued on to earn his BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design. While he worked at a skateboard shop, he became inspired by the underground and punk scene. He started to make stencils and screen print putting his designs on things like shirts and skateboards. This lead to his now nationally famous ‘OBEY’ stencils that took over the streets, clothing, and his artwork. His first print, “Andre the Giant Has a Posse,” created in 1989 took on the street art style that he would become known…show more content… He took his contemporary style and incorporated print form, like screen printing, to speak to the world through art. He created an iconic image and brand OBEY and helped President Obama become the face of the 2008 elections. He has worked with celebrities, artists, and world figures to not just make art, but to make a difference and speak up about certain subjects. His social and political awareness and outwardness towards speaking his mind has helped to make a name for himself. His went from being just a street artist, to making a difference in talking through print. Despite being a controversial figure in printmaking history, is it safe to say that he has influenced urban art to the full extent. Shepard once said, “I look at myself as someone who wants to empower artists (including myself) and so I refuse to subscribe to a dysfunctional standard toward street artists that does nothing but hold us back.” He did not let the fact that he was first known as a street artist stop him from taking that style to new places. He has created and become the face of urban and street printmaking, and showing that their are no boundaries when it comes to art. As long as the art speaks to the viewer, successful art is possible. He did not, and still does not let anyones opinions hold him back from making the artwork that he is so passionate
