Frank Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary street artist, graphic designer, activist, illustrator, and founder of OBEY Clothing who emerged from the skateboarding scene. He first became known for his “Andre the Giant Has a Posse” sticker campaign while attending the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).
Titled ‘Future Mosaic’, the exhibition will feature new works on canvas, paper, wood, and metal, as well as examples of iconic images and repeated motifs from the breadth of his artistic history. ‘Future Mosaic’ is a reflection of Fairey’s multi-medium art practice that is more than just a collection of individual images, but an intentional, cumulative mosaic of unique but aesthetically and conceptually related pieces that go beyond mediums and contexts.
From silk-screened stickers to museum surveys, the trajectory of Shepard Fairey’s art has progressed from imagery you might find on a skateboard deck to his iconic image of Former U.S. President Barack Obama that hangs in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, Washington DC.
As part of his Dubai tour this spring, Shepard Fairey will, additionally, be creating an exclusive mural whose place is yet to be disclosed. The show will be taking place at DIFC’s Opera Gallery in March. “I’m very excited to show in Dubai. I’m a big fan of the Middle East and its rich culture. The work I’ll be including for this exhibition is cross-cultural and breaks all superficial barriers and stands for the same values as Dubai: justice, peace and human rights,” commented Fairey, expressing his excitement at the exhibit.
‘Future Mosaic’ promises to be more than just a collection of individual pieces, but a collective mosaic of unique conceptually related pieces that go “beyond mediums and contexts”.