Having provided the main image for the OBAMA campaign now recognized around the world, the influence of street & graphic artist SHEPARD FAIREY cannot be overstated. Having transcended the traditional boundaries of his chosen medium to create an image that united and inspired voters (and the presidential candidate himself) across lines of class, race, gender, and party, Fairey has achieved a truly monumental task in this election and inspired a generation of young people to become politically active in the process. A key element to the success of Obama’s visual campaign was Fairey’s mostly illegal dissemination tactics of wheatpasting posters on private and public property without permission, a sweet little twist in the side of the political machine that proved the artist’s steadfast adherence to his streetwise principals remained intact while working overground in such an unprecedented way. In doing so, he single-handedly inspired a nation of supporters to do the same and the Obama campaign has seen an outpouring of viral aesthetic support at a level never before realized by a political candidate. On the eve of tomorrow’s presidential election, we spoke with Shepard about the relevance of his work for Obama and his thoughts on the shape of political things to come. READ ON:
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