Shepard Fairey

 

Facing the Giant: Three Decades of Dissent

Multiple venues, 2019 

Shepard Fairey’s illustrious and controversial career started with a sticker, which was created in 1989 while a sophomore at the Rhode Island School of Design. Thus the “Andre the Giant Has a Posse” sticker was born. Initially Fairey began placing the sticker anonymously around Providence as an experiment, it soon became an obsession that has lasted 30 years, launched his career and has covered the world with his imagery. 

From the beginning Shepard’s practice, has been fueled by a non-conformist attitude that embraces punk rock, DIY culture and skateboarding. Today, Shepard is one of the best-known artists in the world. His work addresses a range of themes, from civil rights activism to mass incarceration and climate change. The exhibition Facing the Giant: Three Decades of Dissent featured a selection of 30 key works that highlighted how over three decades Fairey has developed an intentionally accessible visual style that’s speaks to everyone, while pulling from visual history to address critical issues. Shepard’s bold clear messages empowers the public to re-examine norms and question their surroundings. Although Fairey’s spirit of dissent is more important than ever in speaking truth to power, he has recently adopted artistic strategies that emphasize a spirit of unity, empathy and shared humanity. This new approach is critical in shaping a productive discourse that visualizes an equitable future in which we can all prosper. 

Co-Curators: Pedro Alonzo and Shepard Fairey

Ancien Musée de Peinture; Street Art Fest, Grenoble, France,
June 06 – October 07 2019/ 

Beyond the Streets, Brooklyn, New York,
June 21 – September 29, 2019

Galerie Itinerrance, Paris, France
June 22 – July 27, 2019

Burrard Arts Foundation, Vancouver, Bc,
August 08 – September 28, 2019

Stolen Space Gallery and Beats Residency Shoreditch,  London
October 05 – November 01, 2019

AS220 and RISD Pop-up Gallery, Providence, Ri
October 25 – November 26, 2019

Over The Influence Gallery, Los Angeles,
November 10 – December 23, 2019

IG @obeygiant / obeygiant.com

Photo credits: John Furlong