“Creating is about sharing ideas, sharing aesthetics, sharing what you believe in with other people.” (Shepard Fairey)
Shepard Fairey was born in Charleston, South Carolina on 02/15/1970. His mother is, Charlotte, a realtor and his father, Strait Fairey, is a doctor. In 1984, he started to paint on T-shirts and skateboards. He attened Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) from 1988 to 1992 and earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration.
As an artist and an activist, Shepard has been engaging in social and political topics. He also actively creates artworks and donotes them to increase awareness of social justice. "André the Giant has a Posse" is one of his most famous works,which started in 1989 while Shepard was attending the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). It later became the "Obey Giant" campaign. The intention behind is to inspire curiosity and cause people to question their relationship with their surroundings. "André the Giant has a Posse" was used as a name for a documentary, filmed by American filmmaker Helen Stickler, talking about Shepard and his work. Stickler also attended RISD and graduated with a film degree. In the 1995 New York Underground Film Festival, the film was premiered and later seen in more than 70 festivals and museums internationally.