Shepard Fairey's Big Week

A few times this past week, Shepard Fairey was in the news. Lawsuits, arrest warrants and an retrospective exhibition!

First, this is something that many of the creatives in our community have various opinions on Shepard Fairey’s (http://obeygiant.com) “use� of Barack Obama’s image from Associated Press Photographer, Mannie Garcia for the very successful “HOPE� campaign. NYT Article UK Times Article.

This is something that stretches deep into our professional practice as graphic designers. When is using a public image borrowing, appropriating or just plain stealing? We have many laws to help us understand but how many of them are black and white in interpretation? There is plenty of gray to go around.

When I see a lawsuit like this, I understand the concern about breaking copyright, but also have a feeling that it is a bit “opportunistic� on the behalf of the AP. Then there is the irony, how many times have the “HOPE� poster been knocked off by other people trying to make a buck capitalizing on Fairey’s success. A wild and vicious circle that we call: our business.

He as also arrested on two outstanding warrants going into his exhibition on friday night. Now how is that is Opportunistic. READ ARTICLE

In other Shepard Fairey news, a retrospective exhibition just opened at Boston’s ICA . It is a “giant� collection of Fairey’s work from the past 20 years. The title of the show is appropriately called “Supply and Demand�.  It runs now through August 16th, 2009.

Can't make the show? Found some images for you.

Posted by newyorkupstate in News | February 9, 2009