Covert to Overt (gold) by Shepard Fairey, created in 2016, is a screenprint capturing urban interventions through a triptych composition. Rendered in warm sepia-gold tones, each panel features architectural scenes overlaid with Fairey’s signature motifs, such as the “Obey” icon and a bold “Peace” message. The central image, a water tower being painted with the Obey Giant face, symbolizes the transition from underground activism to public engagement. This work reflects Fairey’s ongoing dialogue with propaganda, public space, and the aesthetics of resistance. It is part of an edition of 350.
Shepard Fairey (USA, 1970) is a contemporary street artist and graphic designer, best known for his iconic Obey Giant campaign and the Hope poster for Barack Obama. Merging bold graphics with political messages, his work critiques power, consumerism, and social issues.
Screen-print Screen printing is a technique where ink is transferred through a mesh onto a substrate, with areas blocked by a stencil to prevent ink from passing through. This method, also known as serigraphy or silkscreen printing, is commonly used to produce prints on posters, T-shirts, vinyl, stickers, wood, and other materials. The process is a type of stencil printing, allowing for vibrant, detailed designs on various surfaces.
Covert to Overt (gold) by Shepard Fairey, created in 2016, is a screenprint capturing urban interventions through a triptych composition. Rendered in warm sepia-gold tones, each panel features architectural scenes overlaid with Fairey’s signature motifs, such as the “Obey” icon and a bold “Peace” message. The central image, a water tower being painted with the Obey Giant face, symbolizes the transition from underground activism to public engagement. This work reflects Fairey’s ongoing dialogue with propaganda, public space, and the aesthetics of resistance. It is part of an edition of 350.
Shepard Fairey (USA, 1970) is a contemporary street artist and graphic designer, best known for his iconic Obey Giant campaign and the Hope poster for Barack Obama. Merging bold graphics with political messages, his work critiques power, consumerism, and social issues.
Street art, of course, is political, because it's illegal; so the very act of doing it is an act of defiance.
- Shepard Fairey
Shepard Fairey (b. 1970 USA) is an American contemporary artist, activist, and founder of OBEY Clothing, known for his distinctive style that blendsstreet art, graphic design, and political commentary. Fairey rose to prominence with his "Andre the Giant Has a Posse" sticker campaign in the late 1980s, which evolved into the iconic "OBEY" series, reflecting his exploration of propaganda, power, and control. He is perhaps best known for his "HOPE" poster created during Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, which became a symbol of the era. Fairey’s work, which spans murals, posters, and fine art, is characterized by its bold use of color, imagery, and typography, often addressing themes of social justice, environmentalism, and anti-authoritarianism. His contributions have significantly shaped the visual language of contemporary activism and have made him one of the most influential figures in modern street art. (Artist website)
Lettrism is an art form that uses letters, words, and symbols to create artwork. The movement was established in Paris in the 1940s and later gained popularity in the 1950s in America. Lettrisme is the French spelling of the movement's name, derived from the French word for letter.