SHEPARD FAIREY:
GRAFFITI GURU
You would think a son of a doctor and a real estate agent would have a career in the white collar world, but for Shepard Fairey his future was painted with different colors.
Fairey founded a passion for art in 1984 when he began creating his graphic designs on skateboards and t-shirts. The graduate of Rhode Island School of Design had his first exhibition in 2009 titled "Supply and Demand"which consisted of screen prints, stickers, collages, and works on metal, canvas, and wood. His mantra of the body of work was entitled "Question Everything."
He is best known for his "Andre the Giant Has a Posse" sticker campaign in which he augmented comedic images from tabloid newspaper. The image of the Princess Bride's star quickly morphed into his "Obey Giant" campaign. Originally his stickers were meant to be a humorous idea to his college friends and classmates, but later broke into the mainstream.
Helen Stickler, a documentary film maker and fellow RID graduate, made a short film about Fairey and his work which premiere in New York's 1995 Underground Film Festival. The film has ben shown internationally in over 70 museums and festivals.
In 2003 along with his wife, Amanda, they formed the Studio Number One Design Agency which has produced work for both the film and music industry.
Even with fame and success, controversy is no stranger to the boyish looking Fairey. He has been criticized for not obtaining permission to provide credit for certain works he has used, and is also accused to turning his street graffiti art into a self-promoting campaign. In 2009, while on vacation in Amsterdam he was attacked outside a nightclub for being a supporter of President Obama.
Whatever life throws at Fairey, he is still one of the best known street and graffiti artists in today's world.
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