With a repertoire anchored in dissent and cultural criticism, Shepard Fairey has become an indelible voice in the contemporary art world. Born in 1970 in Charleston, South Carolina, Fairey’s rise to fame began with his “Andre the Giant Has a Posse” sticker campaign, which infiltrated urban landscapes and soon transformed into the mainstream movement, “Obey.”
His breakthrough came in 2008 with the now-iconic “Hope” poster, featuring Barack Obama’s arresting gaze during the U.S. presidential campaign. The image became an emblem of progress and galvanized a generation, transcending its political roots to attain an enduring place in pop culture.
Fueled by a fervent belief in the power of art to effect change, Fairey has consistently championed social justice causes, incorporating themes of corporate greed, environmental degradation, and racial inequality throughout his work. He also co-founded Studio Number One, a creative agency dedicated to producing socially conscious designs, and has helped amplify activist messages via collaborations with Amnesty International and Greenpeace.
In celebration of the 2015 release of Covert to Overt: The Under/Overground Art of Shepard Fairey, the street art iconoclast shared five books that have most impacted his life and work with Goodreads. From George Orwell’s surveillance state dystopia to the journals of Keith Haring, explore his bookshelf below, and complement with the reading recommendations of fellow art provocateurs Ai Weiwei, Marina Abramovic, and Pussy Riot.
Shepard Fairey’s Reading List
This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate by Naomi Klein
“This Changes Everything did just that for me. I’ve been a longtime advocate for climate change, but this book inspired me and continues to inspire me. The future of our planet is the most important cause there is. Klein thoroughly and compellingly examines the causes of climate change and the systemic roadblocks to reversing it. I know the book will have a lasting impact. It’s overwhelmingly clear through the book that income inequality, lack of corporate oversight, campaign finance, lobbying, and many other current strands of capitalism are all related to our inability to significantly counter climate change. We ALL need to protect humanity and the planet if we want to protect our future.” -SF
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell (also rec’d by Anthony Burgess, David Bowie, John Lennon, Hozier, Richard Branson, Richey Edwards & Steve Jobs)
“I read Animal Farm first, but 1984 was an even more intense examination of manipulation and psychological control that made me understand just how necessary it is to push back against restricting freedom of speech and the need to question propaganda. Big Brother has been a theme in a lot of my work, and I even named a show in London ‘Nineteen Eighty Fouria’ based on the seemingly joyful embrace of expanding surveillance in London post-9/11.” -SF
The Catcher in 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 insecure and felt a lot of anxiety about how I fit in socially and academically at my strict private school. Reading The Catcher in the Rye, I related very profoundly to Holden Caulfield as an intelligent but self-sabotaging high school student. I enjoyed the humor and the social observations of Holden’s character, and I felt a kinship that made my insecurities about my own dysfunction a little less paralyzing. The book was very good therapy for me and made me more comfortable sharing my own thoughts.” -SF
Keith Haring Journals by Keith Haring
“I was honored to write the foreword for the Keith Haring Journals back in 2010. I’ve always admired Haring on many levels, and I think he paved the way for the current crop of street artists who have crossed into the galleries and other areas of consumer culture. Not only was Haring a great artist in his style and technique, but his philosophies were very influential to me. He believed the public had a right to art and that whether that was achieved by putting work in the subways as murals, or as affordable products in his Pop Shop, he wanted all tiers of society to access his work. He also did a lot of work for social causes, including AIDs awareness, drug awareness, and antinuclear proliferation. I follow the model Haring created with my own work in many ways. The book is a very illuminating journey through Haring’s thought process that was incredibly sophisticated for someone so young. These journals demonstrate Haring’s intellect, drive, and humanity. I highly recommend checking this updated edition out.” -SF
Seize the Time: The Story of the Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton by Bobby Seale (also rec’d by Nipsey Hussle)
“Prior to reading Seize the Time, I believed the hype and thought that the Black Panthers were mostly whitey haters with a great logo and cool outfits. I took a deeper look because of Public Enemy, but what really made me understand the humanity of the Black Panthers was this book. It chronicles black life in Oakland and the need for an organization to protect blacks from racist police and to institute social programs for the black community that the local government does not provide. Seale has a great balance in the book of storytelling with human and amusing lingo, but he also speaks with deep conviction about the role of the Panthers and his admiration for Huey P. Newton.” -SF
(via Goodreads; photo by Hublot)
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