The Street Artist Who Won’t Quit: The Story Of Shepard Fairey

Shepard Fairey is the man behind the Obama “Hope” posters, but he’s open about his disappointment with Obama’s presidency. While he’s promoted putting all of his profits from art into causes and social issues, Fairey is also one of the wealthiest street artists to have ever lived. A type 1 diabetic, the artist has been jailed a dozen times for illegal street art and has gotten terribly sick while sitting in a jail cell. Here we take a look at the controversial career of the street artist who just won’t quit.

Shepard Fairey’s Roots Are In Guerilla Art

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During his college years, Shepard Fairey began making a name for himself creating stickers with his stencil art. He also grew his passion for street art, which comes with problems of its own. Street artists’ work is often an expression of protest, whether social or political, and the artists do not have permission to use their medium. While some communities embrace the art that appears in their neighborhoods, others call it vandalism. This leads to a backlash against the artist, which only seems to fuel their drive to take to the streets once again. As you’ll see, Fairey has ended up on both sides of this street art argument.