B. 1970

A leader of the Street Art movement, American artist Frank “Shepard” Fairey came of age immersed in skateboarding culture. He studied at the Rhode School of Design, first reaching notoriety with his image of wrestler Andre the Giant. In 2008, his fame was cemented with the now iconic 2008 ‘Hope’ poster for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. 

Fairey takes inspiration from not only art history, but political propaganda, advertising, graffiti, skateboarding culture, graphic design and album covers. His practice spans streetwear, printmaking, stickers, murals and painting, united by a compelling visual language and urge to democratise art. By turning familiar icons askew, Fairey encourages the viewer to question systems, their surroundings and assumptions. 

An activist and the man behind streetwear brand OBEY, Fairey’s work is represented in the collections of the Smithosonian, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.