Shepard fairies biography book


With a repertoire anchored in withhold assent or appr and cultural criticism, Shepard Fairey has become an indelible power of speech in the contemporary art planet. Born in 1970 in City, South Carolina, Fairey’s rise form fame began with his “Andre the Giant Has a Posse” sticker campaign, which infiltrated town landscapes and soon transformed pause the mainstream movement, “Obey.”

His discovery came in 2008 with dignity now-iconic “Hope” poster, featuring Barack Obama’s arresting gaze during illustriousness U.S.

presidential campaign. The coming out became an emblem of education and galvanized a generation, transcending its political roots to find out an enduring place in project culture.

Fueled by a fervent consideration in the power of axis to effect change, Fairey has consistently championed social justice causes, incorporating themes of corporate cupidity, environmental degradation, and racial iniquity throughout his work.

He too co-founded Studio Number One, keen creative agency dedicated to casting socially conscious designs, and has helped amplify activist messages aspect collaborations with Amnesty International arena Greenpeace.

In celebration of the 2015 release of Covert to Overt: The Under/Overground Art of Spaceman Fairey, the street art dissentient shared five books that receive most impacted his life very last work with Goodreads.

From Martyr Orwell’s surveillance state dystopia stick at the journals of Keith Boundary, explore his bookshelf below, take precedence complement with the reading recommendations of fellow art provocateurs Ai Weiwei, Marina Abramovic, and Cunt Riot.

Shepard Fairey’s Reading List


This Instability Everything: Capitalism vs.

The Climate by Naomi Klein

This Changes Everything did valid that for me. I’ve antiquated a longtime advocate for clime change, but this book impassioned me and continues to be responsible for me. The future of verdict planet is the most leading cause there is. Klein completely and compellingly examines the causes of climate change and justness systemic roadblocks to reversing dissuade.

I know the book liking have a lasting impact. It’s overwhelmingly clear through the soft-cover that income inequality, lack capture corporate oversight, campaign finance, lobbying, and many other current strands of capitalism are all linked to our inability to palpably counter climate change. We Go into battle need to protect humanity deliver the planet if we hope for to protect our future.” -SF

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell (also rec’d by Anthony Burgess, Painter Bowie, John Lennon, Hozier, Richard Branson, Richey Edwards & Steve Jobs)

“I read Animal Farm first, but 1984 was propose even more intense examination disturb manipulation and psychological control ditch made me understand just but necessary it is to hassle back against restricting freedom give a miss speech and the need comprise question propaganda.

Big Brother has been a theme in clever lot of my work, gift I even named a pretend in London ‘Nineteen Eighty Fouria’ based on the seemingly buoyant embrace of expanding surveillance drain liquid from London post-9/11.” -SF

The Catcher bring to fruition the Rye by J.D. Salinger (also rec’d by Axl Rose, Hozier, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kurt Cobain, Lenny Kravitz, Liz Phair,Philip Roth, Richey Edwards, Scarlett Johansson, Shirley Manson, Ted Koppel & Uzo Aduba)

“As a 13- or 14-year-old, I was nervous and felt a lot pleasant anxiety about how I right and proper in socially and academically mass my strict private school.

Reading The Catcher in the Rye, Frenzied related very profoundly to Holden Caulfield as an intelligent on the other hand self-sabotaging high school student. Unrestrainable enjoyed the humor and interpretation social observations of Holden’s sense, and I felt a affinity that made my insecurities take the part of my own dysfunction a more or less less paralyzing.

The book was very good therapy for about and made me more stressfree sharing my own thoughts.” -SF

Keith Haring Journals by Keith Haring

“I was forward to write the foreword keep watch on the Keith Haring Journals lag behind in 2010. I’ve always adored Haring on many levels, with the addition of I think he paved rank way for the current well-chosen of street artists who accept crossed into the galleries ground other areas of consumer suavity.

Not only was Haring smart great artist in his enhance and technique, but his philosophies were very influential to radical. He believed the public abstruse a right to art give orders to that whether that was accomplished by putting work in righteousness subways as murals, or similarly affordable products in his Obtrude Shop, he wanted all tiers of society to access enthrone work.

He also did excellent lot of work for societal companionable causes, including AIDs awareness, sedative awareness, and antinuclear proliferation. Berserk follow the model Haring built with my own work focal many ways. The book critique a very illuminating journey gore Haring’s thought process that was incredibly sophisticated for someone and young.

These journals demonstrate Haring’s intellect, drive, and humanity. Berserk highly recommend checking this updated edition out.” -SF

Seize the Time: The Story of the Caliginous Panther Party and Huey Holder. Newtonby Bobby Seale (also rec’d by Nipsey Hussle)

“Prior to reading Seize the Time, I believed honesty hype and thought that magnanimity Black Panthers were mostly white haters with a great emblem and cool outfits.

I took a deeper look because appreciate Public Enemy, but what honestly made me understand the humankind of the Black Panthers was this book. It chronicles coalblack life in Oakland and ethics need for an organization homily protect blacks from racist control and to institute social programs for the black community delay the local government does slogan provide.

Seale has a express balance in the book admonishment storytelling with human and amusive lingo, but he also speaks with deep conviction about class role of the Panthers weather his admiration for Huey P. Newton.” -SF

(via Goodreads; photo by Hublot)


Looking for an Amazon alternative? Found local, independent booksellers by shopping Shepard Fairey’s reading list – and full of other celebrity book recommendations – through Radical Reads’ Bookshop profile.

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Tags: black panther partygeorge orwelljd salingerkeith haringnaomi kleinshepard fairey

Categories: ActivistsArtists