Shepard Fairey

Meaning Making Strategies: 

-Layering

Ideas and Themes:

- Community

- Belonging

- Identity

Purpose of Art:

- Express an idea

- Raise Awareness or Address an Issue

If you've got a class full of students who groan every time you introduce a piece of artwork for discussion, and of course you do, this should get their attention. Shepard Fairey is known for his political artworks, and legally dubious street art. He's also the owner of a popular the popular clothing company Obey, from which, according to his web site, the profits are funneled back into creating more murals and stickers. This lends itself to lots of interesting and debatable discussions. 

Some of the more complex ideas in his work may be a bit over the head of younger students, but discussions of what his artwork means, and how he represents it are pretty accessible.

Some other interesting discussions that you might have with a class:
- Shepard Fairey's non-commissioned artwork is illegal, is it unethical? Is there a difference?
- Is it okay / fair / ethical for someone to remove something he puts up illegally on their property and sell it?
- Did Shepard violate copyright laws when he created the HOPE poster for former president Obama's campaign?
- By purchasing an item of Obey brand clothing are you supporting Shepard's politics, and or the commission of vandalism if you consider his street art vandalism.
- Was it acceptable for a teacher to hang Shepard's "We the People" series in their classroom? Was it acceptable for their administrator to tell them it had to be removed?

https://obeygiant.com/fine-art/greater-than-fear/?tax=1&tax_name=medium_art_category&term_id=33