Shepard Fairey was born in Charleston, South Carolina. Fairey became passionate about art an early age and went on to receive his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island. In 1989 he created the "Andre the Giant has a Posse" sticker that transformed into the OBEY GIANT art campaign, with imagery that has changed how people see art and the urban landscape. Approaching a 35-year career span, his work has evolved into an acclaimed body of art, including the 2008 "Hope" portrait of Barack Obama, found at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. In 2017, he collaborated with photographers to create the "We the People" series, which was recognizable globally during the Women's Marches. A curated body of work titled “Facing the Giant: Three Decades of Dissent” celebrating his career has been on tour since 2019 and reached London, Paris, Vancouver, Los Angeles, New York, and is currently circulating in various cities in the United States.
