Photo: Fuzheado / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Few artists are as instantly recognizable to me as Shepard Fairey. The red-and-blue Obama "Hope" poster defined a political moment, but his real story is the climb from a Charleston skateboard kid plastering "Andre the Giant Has a Posse" stickers to a muralist whose work commands galleries and city walls alike. I admire that he never sanded off the rebellious edge; pieces like the Mandela mural prove he wants art to argue, not just decorate. He moves freely across commerce, activism, and fine art, blurring boundaries others guard jealously. That refusal to stay in one lane is exactly why I find him compelling.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Shepard Fairey
- Name (Japanese)
- シェパード・フェアリー
- Reading
- しぇぱーど・ふぇありー
- Born
- February 15, 1970 (age 56)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aquarius / Dog
- Origin
- Charleston, South Carolina, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- graffiti artist / designer / graphic designer / serigrapher / muralist
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Wando High School
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- Brit Insurance Design Awards
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Nelson Mandela Mural | — | |
| Notable work | Andre the Giant Has a Posse | — | |
| Notable work | Barack Obama "Hope" poster | — | |
| Notable work | Mural by Shepard Fairey & Vhils in Lisbon | — | |
| Notable work | Peace Guardian | — |
6. Links
- Official sitehttps://obeygiant.com
- Xhttps://x.com/OBEYGIANT
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepard%20Fairey
Frequently asked questions
When was Shepard Fairey born?
Born February 15, 1970 (age 56).
Where is Shepard Fairey from?
Shepard Fairey is from Charleston, South Carolina, United States.
What does Shepard Fairey do?
Shepard Fairey works as graffiti artist, designer, graphic designer, serigrapher, muralist.
What is Shepard Fairey known for?
Notable works include Nelson Mandela Mural, Andre the Giant Has a Posse, Barack Obama "Hope" poster.
Designer — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-19
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.