Shepard Fairey’s HOPE Original at the National Portrait Gallery

January 8, 2009 in Art with 2 Comments

Shepard Fairey's original HOPE piece

Every single person who at least tossed a cursory glace at 2008′s election campaign knows this poster.

It’s likely the first image people remember when they think of Obama, because it was reproduced in so many different ways…ways that are traditionally reserved for rock bands and underground art.  This piece virtually spurred a micro-renaissance in political art, inspiring a completely separate and extremely valuable community of creative minds, unlocking the support of many that wouldn’t have cared otherwise.

On the day of Obama’s Inaguration, the National Portrait Gallery (operated by the Smithsonian) will display the original mixed media piece.  I find this to be such an amazing feat, considering Fairey’s roots wheat-pasting and stencil-spraying OBEY Andre the Giant images all over Los Angeles 20 years ago.  It’s even more remarkable that the Portrait Gallery normally only displays Presidential portraits at the end of their term.  Now, I wouldn’t know this for sure, but it seems like something that would be unprecedented… And that is really awesome.  Good work, Shep!

via OMGPosters
Original Article on USA Today

About Tim Quirino: Tim started Geekadelphia with Eric Smith in 2007 as a result of walking around in stormtrooper armor. He's an Interactive Designer @ P'unk Ave in South Philly, where he designs websites (like this one!).

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2 Responses to “Shepard Fairey’s HOPE Original at the National Portrait Gallery”

  1. Allen Klosowski January 8, 2009 at 4:21 pm #

    Shepard Fairey is awesome. ’nuff said.

    I also like how he embedded OBEY in many of the posters, including some huge ones downtown here in Denver.

  2. Teresa January 17, 2009 at 4:30 pm #

    Sat., Jan. 17, 2009

    Hi GeekAdelphia,

    I would like to send Shephard Fairey an e-mail.

    Can you please provide me his E-mail address or direct me to where I might locate it?

    Thank you,
    Teresa

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