Shepard Fairey's Revolution Box Set

Long before I knew about art galleries or even street art, I was excited about album cover art, if only because it was the visual counterpart to the music on the records I loved. Album covers conjured a euphoric association with the listening experience. Most of my earliest home-made tee shirts were stencils based on punk album covers… No matter how much I love art, or try to convince myself of its relevance in society, the fact remains that music is a lot cooler and way more able to reach people’s hearts and minds… but I’m a populist and I look at it this way: I may not play an instrument, but I’m gonna rock it hard as nails anyway. With my art I try to capture the same energy and spirit that makes music so powerful and democratic. REVOLUTIONS is a celebration of all the great music and accompanying art that has inspired me over the years.

Auction For Skateistan

Skateistan is a school in Kabul where about 400 kids, boys and girls, “rich” and poor – skate on a daily basis and learn things like photography, carpentry, drama, English and much much more.

The school was established in 2008 and built a professional indoor skateboard park in 2009 – with the help of the fundraisers in Denmark.

Now in 2011 we are collecting money so that Skateistan can expand and build an outdoor facility for the kids so they can skate even when the school is not open.

ALL income from this auction goes directly to Skateistan in Kabul – all fees and commissions also (Donated by the auction house Lauritz.com) Skateistan Denmark is run 100% volunter, we have no paid staff, skateboards and shipping is sponsored by BLIND skateboards and Blue Water Shipping – so if you spend 1000 Dollars on one of theese works of art – 1000 Dollars will go to Skateistan.

Death Cab For Cutie + Shepard Fairey

From the Obey Clothing Blog:

I have been a fan of Death Cab for years so I was excited to hear from bassist Nick Harmer about his idea to collaborate on a video piece for their song Home Is A Fire. I love the democracy of music and I’m always excited to bundle visual art with great music. Nick sent me the lyrics to Home Is A Fire and they evoked the duality of “home” both as a place you inhabit, and also as a place that inhabits or traps you. One’s relationship with home might be complicated, but ultimately it can be a two-way dialogue, of which we can at least affect one-way. The city can be an impersonal place, imposing, simultaneously anonymous and claustrophobic. However, there are opportunities for us to affect the city(and life) experience rather than accepting things as passive voyeurs. We all have fears and insecurities about ourselves and our circumstances, but if we have the courage to take risks and participate we can adapt and embrace the flux, rather than fear it. This video is about illustrating these ideas and the multiple dimensions of the city experience by taking the viewer on a journey to encounter the Home Is A Fire  lyrics as street art.  Street art appeals  because it makes the landscape a little less dreary for the viewer, and it is a bureaucracy free creative outlet for the participants. I would say that a street art call to action is “if you don’t like your home… reshape it”. The power of street art is in its intrigue and authenticity , so it was crucial to actually put all the lyrics and images up on the streets. We wanted the viewer to experience the urban environment in a very real and intimate way that celebrates that one person’s wart is another’s beauty mark. Some of the art was put up prior to the video shoot in places that seemed appropriate to the lyrical themes, while other pieces were put up during the shoot. We filmed the preparation of materials as well to demonstrate the energy and process involved in becoming pro-active. Some of the street art was cleaned within a day. Street art, like everything, is ephemeral but I hope that in watching this video and listening to the song, people see a little magic and potential in the unappreciated details of the landscape of their lives, no matter how fleeting they may be.

Thank you to all the people who helped make this video happen.
-Shepard Fairey

Obey Mural In Austin, Texas

John and Yoko by Shepard Fairey

New Shepard Fairey Print "Moon Over Biloxi"

The title of this print “Moon Over Biloxi” is a tribute to the Dead Kennedy’s song “Moon Over Marin”. In 1984 I picked up maybe my 4th punk record which was the 2nd Dead Kennedy’s album “Plastic Surgery Disasters”. The album is a great listen all the way through and includes some blistering tunes like “Riot” and “Bleed For Me” laced with social commentary. The surprise song though is “Moon Over Marin”… detractors have called it the Dead Kennedy’s “U2″ song, but I disagree. “Moon Over Marin” is more melodic than most DK, but juxtaposed with the darkness of the lyrics, the song evokes a powerful sense of existential melancholy. I think the concept that struck me, and stuck with me, is that our disrespect of each other and the planet may doom us , but things will continue without us. I think it is healthy to recognize impermanence, but also to appreciate the value of the ephemeral. Moonlight, real or electric, will probably be around, but what it will be casting light on is the real question. There will always be a moon over Biloxi.
-Shepard

Obey Giant Mr. Spray Toy

Mr. Spray is an original character created by the artist in 2004 as a street-art appropriation of an advertising character design of the 1950s. Mr. Spray is the first original vinyl figure design by the artist in eleven years and will be released in mid-July 2010.

Mr. Spray is a rotocast vinyl figure, 11 inches tall. 4 points of articulation and packaged with an OBEY mini stencil. Illustrated card box packaging.

"Stick 'Em Up!"

This is a clip for the upcoming documentary "Stick 'Em Up!" which focuses on wheat pasting in Houston, Texas. Knowing what I do about Houston's gang culture and hard line police force this could be an interesting view.

Darth Vader Print by Hydro 74

Cool print inspired by Obey.

LEAD Uganda

Lead Uganda from Lead Uganda on Vimeo.

Obey Hit Up Amsterdam's Central Station