Essays on Shepard Fairey

Art Appropriation and its Influences

The idea of art appropriation deals with the way in which people look at images surrounding them, and the immediate connections that are made with the visuals. For the works to be effective, whether it is in advertising, art, or mass media the concepts have to adhere to the essence of art, but more so to be relevant to current issues of the day. This would include making use of art elements such as line, form, light, and color in order for the “reading” to be effective. Thus, any person who is involved in creating visuals ...

Introduction

Art is an important aspect that helps in communication in the society. Art, therefore, can work to ensure that there is activism against oppression in the society. The society suffers from cases of oppression that cannot be solved through just word of mouth communication. In some cases, free speech is limited and fear is instilled among people who try to express their opinion to the oppressors. The fact that there is limited freedom and increased oppression, the society cannot develop beyond a certain level. However, through art, there can be expression about the way people feel about the society ...

Empowerment through the arts

Shepard was artistic in the way he styled and stencilled Obama’s photograph in bold red, beige and blue colours. The portrait had words such as “Hope”, ‘Progress” and “Change” written at the bottom of the photograph. After Obama won the elections, the photograph was absorbed by the Smithsonian Institution in its National Portrait gallery. The stencilled photograph was a success with the Guardian reporting that it would be used in coffee mugs, T-shirts and bedroom walls of the youth in the years to come. In 2009, after the elections, the source of the photograph was revealed and it was ...