Quotes by Shepard Fairey

About Shepard Fairey:

Frank Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary street artist, graphic designer, activist, illustrator and founder of OBEY (clothing) who emerged from the skateboarding scene. He first became known for his "Andre the Giant Has a Posse" (…OBEY…) sticker campaign while attending the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), which appropriated images from the comedic supermarket tabloid Weekly World News.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

The way I make art - the way a lot of people make art - is as an extension of language and communication, where references are incredibly important.

Shepard Fairey

If you're creating something that has some sort of cultural currency - if the idea is getting out there - then that will probably yield money in some form, whether it's through selling art or selling books or being asked to give a lecture.

Shepard Fairey

For me, there has always been a disconnect with the sort of elitist structure of the high-art world - and my distaste for that is at odds with my feeling that art should aspire to do great things.

Shepard Fairey

Art shows and the institutions end up being the couriers for culture for the next generation and are an important component as well. It may seem ironic from one perspective, but I think if you look at my overall strategy, it's actually not out of ste...

Shepard Fairey

When you walk down the street and see something in a crazy spot, there's something powerful about that. The street will always be an important part of getting art out there for me.

Shepard Fairey

I don't have this obsessive need to do street art all the time because it's already opened doors for me.

Shepard Fairey

I admire Ai Weiwei for his art and his activism. His art is beautiful in form, and in function embodies the principles of populism and social consciousness I aspire to in my own practice.

Shepard Fairey

The problem with copyright enforcement is that when the parameters aren't incredibly well defined, it means big corporations, who have deeper pockets and better lawyers, can bully people.

Shepard Fairey

When I think about how I want to reach an audience, I just wanted to make pieces that were inspired by something that gave me so much pleasure.

Shepard Fairey

I've never really considered myself just a street artist. I consider myself a populist.

Shepard Fairey

Most campaigns rely on photographs because the moment you do something that is a graphic interpretation where any artistic license has been taken, I think a lot of people are scared that it's going to be perceived as propaganda.

Shepard Fairey

Propaganda has a negative connotation, which it partially deserves, but I think there is some propaganda that is very positive. I feel that if you can do something that gets people's attention, then maybe they'll go and find out more about the person...

Shepard Fairey

Author Bio

  • NameShepard Fairey
  • Descriptioncontemporary street artist, graphic designer activist and illustrator who emerged from the skateboarding scene
  • AliasesFrank Shepard Fairey; Obey
  • BornFebruary 15, 1970
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionGraffiti Artist; Artist; Designer; Graphic Designer