Research | Modern Propaganda

Source: http://miukoridi.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/shepard-fairey-3.jpg, http://miukoridi.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/shepard-fairey-3.jpg

As I've been discussing 1900-1950s propaganda in the last part of research I figured I'd start some research on the modern propaganda artist'. Shepard Fairey is far better known for his 'OBEY' branding that has spread like wild fire over America and the UK, but he does fantastic modern propaganda posters. The one above sports the phrase "Drop sneakers not bombs". This phrase has been adapted to be attractive to many different target audiences, for instance the image below would be aimed at car enthusiasts:

Source: https://dubkorps.com/files/imagecache/gear_list_large/WHT_DropCarsNotBombs_big.png

These are opposing to the attitude of all of the posters I have previously reviewed, but the art work that Shepard produces is very much in the same style as the artist i previously reviewed, Henry Koerner.

 Source: http://www.marksandmeaning.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/shepard_fairey_obama-poster.jpg

" Fairey sold 350 of the posters on the street immediately after printing them." 
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_%22Hope%22_poster.

This poster of Barack Obama was created by Shepard in 2008 for the American Presidential Election. I find it fascinating how a street artist has come to be so heavily impacting on the election, with over 300 of these posters sold on the streets by Shepard himself. Along with his success with the election poster, his clothing brand "OBEY" has become huge in The United Kingdom over the last year or so, going from something of a indie clothing brand to a fashion phenomenon for teenagers.

Source: http://madamepickwickartblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/shepard-1.jpg

Shepard uses minimum amounts of gradients in his work. This is where his work contrasts to Henry's, but the use of American flag colours is a very strong link creates a strong link between both of their styles. The use of these colours conveys the image that America is self driven, and is patriotic.

Source: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/01/09/timestopics/shepardfairey_395.jpg

"Frank Shepard Fairey (born February 15, 1970) is an American contemporary graphic designer and illustrator who emerged from the skateboarding^[1] scene. He first became known for his "Andre the Giant Has a Posse" (…OBEY…) sticker campaign, in which he appropriated images from the comedic supermarket tabloid Weekly World News. His work became more widely known in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, specifically his Barack Obama "Hope" poster. The Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston calls him one of today's best known and most influential street artists.^[2] His work is included in the collections at The Smithsonian, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.^[3][4]" 

^{Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepard_Fairey}

I really like Shepard's work overall, he uses a contemporary posterised style I haven't seen in any other propaganda to show highlights and low lights on peoples faces. To keep things simple he uses a very small colour palette of 4 colours or less.