Shepard Fairey

DENVER—Art is to presidential politics what food rations are to war—a necessary component of the enterprise, but nothing one would choose to consume under normal circumstances. In this, as in so many ways, Barack Obama’s campaign is different.

Early on, Mr. Obama captured the fancy of the bicoastal artistic community, and he’s gone to unprecedented lengths to incorporate their creations into his campaign. Perhaps the most successful example of this collaboration between the graphic and the political is a series of posters created by the designer Shepard Fairey: agitprop-like images of the candidate’s face, superimposed over words like “hope” and “progress.” Copies of the posters, once available through Mr.  read more »

Time is dwindling for Obamamaniacs who hang their allegiance on their walls. Russell Simmons’ Art for Life auction ends tomorrow (July 24) at 2 p.m., and with it, the opportunity to pay over $100,000 for one of three original and unique, soon-to-be iconic Obama ‘HOPE’ stencilings. These approximately 4 feet by 6 inch pieces were produced by Shepard Fairey on mixed media (or what appears to be newspaper and wallpaper) and can now be admired in reproduced poster form in college dorm rooms across the country. That is, if your friend was one of the liberal junkies keen enough to pounce on them when they were released on Jan.  read more »