Shepard Fairey Threatens To Sue Artist for OBEY Giant Parody
Left: Baxter’s ‘Protect Yourself | Right: Shepard’s ‘OBEY Giant’
Self-professed ‘Propaganda Re-Engineer’ Baxter Orr is an Austin-based, 26-year-old freelance designer who has a penchant for making limited edition prints and parodying some of Shepard Fairey’s most iconic images from the Andre the Giant face to the pop artist’s most recent mainstream coup d’art: campaign posters for Obama. However, the artist that’s made quite a fortune by aggressively plagiarizing copying the works of others, is not so happy with the idea of Andre breathing through a SARS mask, and sent the young illustrator a cease & desist demanding he remove the “Protect Yourself” prints from his website, claiming it’s a clear copyright violation.
UPDATE: For you doubters and conspiracy theorists.
Left: Baxter’s ‘DOPE’ | Right: Shepard’s ‘HOPE’
Baxter has also raised a few eyebrows with his variation of Fairey’s ‘HOPE’ poster, instead creating a satirical, limited edition “DOPE” print that celebrates the presidential hopeful’s early experimentation with drugs. “I wanted to do the other side of Obama, the young crazy kid that did coke and shit,” says Baxter, “the flawed human.” He claims he was also motivated by the creative community’s “sheep-like” embracing of Obama, describing their blind affection as “follow the leader” adding “it gets a little frightening as even the “free thinking” artists are putting this guys picture in their home as if he is the next chairman Mao.”
In the meantime, the artist isn’t too worried, and is seeking some legal help—free if possible—to figure out his next moves. Baxter maintains that Shepard’s always been a big inspiration, and that his recreations are not malicious, but rather ironic, “I wanted to parody the guy who parodies everything. He’s based his career off this. If he gets mad at this, he’s become just like Tide detergent or Coca-Cola.”
Snippet of C&D:
(Click image for bigness)
“Protect Yourself”
A little Propaganda Re-Engineering. Signed (on front) and Stamped (on back) 1 color silkscreen print on archival white paper. 18X22 inches, $25.
“DOPE”
HOPE, CHANGE, DOPE! A satire on Barack Obama’s crazy past. This signed and numbered 3 color silkscreen print. Limited Edition of 250. 18X24 inches, $30. “We did blow when we could afford it.” -Barack Obama
See more of Baxter Orr’s work on his website: www.baxterorr.com
|Update|
![[Post to Twitter]](http://animalnewyork.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-twitter.png){kind=icon}
.
if Fairey is going to “borrow” other peoples ideas, claim them as fair use and make money for himself and his family from said works, why is he threatening to sue an artist for doing the exact same thing? Is it because it directly effects his profit margin? Probably.
Is it a different set of standards for Fairey than Orr? Sure… according to Fairey’s mind.
Should Fairey relax and realize as a public figure and artist he is open to parody?
Absolutely…
Does this effect my everyday life and struggles as a freelance journalist and a person with a disability?
Not in the slightest……
Now read my words and OBEY
I’ve always wondered how fairey can even use the obey image - is he not directly ripping a character created by the WWF (andre the giant)? couldn’t the use of andre the giant (or whatever his real name was) be seen as an unauthorized endorsement implied by the use of his image?
[...] style, which borrows hugely from Russian Constructivism though he’d like the borrowing to stop there) as well as criticizing elements of the composition. These were not emotional “Eh, I just [...]
Да,несогласен с предыдущими блоггерами
^..^ Bye
[...] Is it the artist who has amassed a small fortune based on “appropriation” yet still sends cease and desist letters to other artists for appropriating his [...]
[...] one corner: Shepard Fairey, an artist whose built his empire on appropriated art but files cease and desist letters to artists who co-opt his work even for parody purposes. In the other corner: The Associated Press, [...]
Shepard Fairey went against everything he originally set out to do when he started the Obey campaign in the early 90s. His artwork is now advertisements for his clothing line, mass produced posters and fixed gear bikes.
[...] Is it the artist who has amassed a small fortune based on “appropriation” yet still sends cease and desist letters to other artists for appropriating his [...]
[...] dava açmıştı. Fairey’de kendi posterlerini “remix”leyen Baxten Orr’a dava açmış. Evan Roth bunun üzerine Obama posterinin yapıldığı fotoğrafı resmetmiş ve yarışmayı [...]
Shepard Fairey and his Camp tries to dismiss legitimate criticism of Fairey’s work is that Many Street Artist are just Haters who believe he is a SELL OUT. In clarity this is a complete fallacy and far removed from the essential truth of our criticism.
Our critique of his work addresses not his financial success of SELLING OUT but his successful robbing of important historical movements and cultures. Our collective movement of activist who employ fair criticism questions Shepard Fairy’s actions and copyright violations in question. This is an important social critique of Sheppard Fairy as he symbolically represents the new breed of corporate pilferers in the World today who are exploitative of workers,culture, commerce and it’s by products. The Fairey believes that Photography is not a legitimate form as he is entitled to lift these works for his own purposes and design.
I would like to initiate our discussion by calling into question Shepard Fairey’s infringed actions through its unethical cultural practices of producing art which is lifted from historical schools, photographers and its authored sources. Shepard Fairey has stated that he has lifted the branded poster from an AP photographer for the OBAMA campaign. Fairey has years of violations in manufacturing radical chic as mercantile. Shepard Fairey has exploited many historical movement worlds wide in generating millions of dollars in profits selfishly for himself and his corporate company. We have nothing against his commercial success only against his unethical practices. For over a decade Shepard Fairey has continued with a patterned of infringed abuse. Fairey had every opportunity to settle with the AP and request clearance for his corporate company and its entities.
Instead he chose to defend his rights to steal other peoples artwork, he spends more time sending cease and desists letters to individuals that he feels his company is threatened by.
http://www.art-for-a-change.com/Obey/index.htm
There are many others important critics, writers and artists who have identified and shared the same critique, This is an important issue to address as Fairey is operating as a wolf in sheep’s clothing presenting himself as a Street Artist who is citing creative commons when in fact he is hiding under the umbrella of Fair Use. The artist says he is defending artist everywhere when he is only protecting his assets and other future potential lawsuits.
The so called rip-off Artist Shepard Fairey is facing serious allegations of Copyright Infringement from the AP.
Shepard new public release say he stands for Artist everywhere? My question is name the Artist that Shepard Fairey is defending?
In addressing the Korporate War on Greed it is important to identify the different types of exploitations which are in existence in our day and age which have recently come to light. Fairey’s gameface is to steal your work and thank you for it. There is a strong organic movement which is being directed towards unveiling individuals like Shepard Fairey who are now known as exploitative in their fundamental practice as the merchant who has violated a decade of copyright laws as well as misrepresenting the media in the marketplace.
The opponents to Shepard Fairey are not one singular individual but a collective of many who have taken a respectable stand against him and his Companies, Greed and Exploitative Acts.
Come join us in truly questioning our culture in question…
http://disobeyduhfairey.vox.com/