The Biggest Issue With Time’s Person of the Year: Shepard Fairey

Time magazine’s pick of the “The Protestor” for its annual “Person of the Year” is replete with problems, but none are as glaring as the Shepard Fairey created cover art. See, a part of this “Person of the Year” is Occupy Wall Street (leg? fist?). OWS has been resisting figure-head leadership since its conception — something Shepard Fairey just didn’t get. OWS is still resisting Shepard Fairey, specifically. Yet, Shepard Fairey is still trying and it’s his very recognizable, marketable aesthetic which peers from the cover. OWS: Meet your fictive leader Obey Giant™? Read more »

Shepard Fairey Marked as the 1%

The art world version of ‘Magic‘ is set to begin in Miami starting any minute and street artists have been busy preparing, like this person who embellished one of Shepard Fairey’s signature OBEY pieces on Collins Avenue. Is it a statement about his wealth or a critique of his piss-poor attempt at supporting Occupy Wall Street? Who knows, either way it’s funny. (Photo: Paul Reubens)

Shepard Fairey Recants ‘Hope’ for Occupy Wall Street, Releases Updated Version

It seems that some Occupy Wall Streeters agreed with our critique of Shepard Fairey’s hastily slapped together image of support and sternly asked him to make some hefty revisions. And he agreed. He removed the clumsy copy and Obama campaign logo, making it more in line with the movement’s message. Now if he would just make something more original as opposed to this copy and paste, this whole exercise in design might have actually made sense.

Shepard Fairey Doesn’t Get Occupy Wall St

Recently, Shepard Fairey explained how he’s down with Occupy Wall Street and their message, but it’s hard to believe he ever bothered to understand what the movement is all about on even the most fundamental level in light of this new illustration he did to show “his support.” Perhaps he should start here and read the General Assembly’s “Statement of Autonomy” where OWS explicitly states that it has no interest in either political party. Both have failed the people, contributed to the corporate sabotage of the nation’s economic system and clearly don’t represent the 99%. Nice try though.

Shepard Fairey ‘Believes’ in Clooney Prez

He may not be liked by Danish anarchists, but he sure is beloved by the American mainstream. Behold the HOPE-y Shepard Fairey hommage in George Clooney-directed presidential election intrigue flick The Ides of March, which the artist had not been involved with. Anybody saw a campaign poster copyright drama side plot in there?

Shepard Fairey: Soap Opera Set Decorator

Shepard Fairey’s art makes an appearance on The Young and the Restless as a coveted piece of office accessorizing because it’s worth a lot of money, ooh la la. For those allergic to soap, here’s a transcript. Read more »

Shepard Fairey and His Mural Attacked in Denmark

It happened when the artist left a Copenhagen nightclub that was hosting the after party for his newly opened gallery exhibit, Your Ad Here, last weekend. The 41-year-old designer and a friend were reportedly “punched and kneed” by three “left wing anarchists,” leaving him with a “black eye and a bruised rib” (and ego), according to a lengthy statement on his website about the incident that was first reported by the Guardian. Read more »

Shepard Fairey’s Wife Reveals His “Secret”

When the TMZ crew caught Shepard Fairey at LAX and asked him if he still goes out to put up his own posters, his wife answered for him: “Long time ago…” and he snapped, hard. Oh, the scandal! Not. Why so hissy, Shep? It’s no secret that the street artist who has put up a large amount of work on his own now delegates the legwork to his devoted minions, just like Koons, Hirst and such. TMZ’s ooohs over this “exclusive” “revelation” are hilariously unnecessary.

Shepard Fairey Thinks He’s Holden Caulfield

An interview with ArtInfo, Shepard Fairey clarifies that he’s not an activist, but “an artist whose work sometimes dips into activism.” Also, he takes it all personally because he’s Holden Caulfield. So, what does a 41-year-old commercially recognized artist have in common with a 17-year-old voyeur with an angsty Peter Pan complex? Read more »