Now on View: Portrait of Barack Obama by Shepard Fairey

            ©  Shepard Fairey/ObeyGiant.com

The portrait that came to symbolize the historic campaign of President-elect Barack Obama is now on display at the National Portrait Gallery. The piece, created by Los Angeles–based graphic designer and street artist Shepard Fairey, came to the museum through the generosity of Washington, D.C., art collectors Heather and Tony Podesta, in honor of Tony Podesta’s mother, the late Mary K. Podesta.  This large-scale mixed-media stenciled collage is on view in the “New Arrivals” exhibition, on the museum’s first floor. 

Fairey’s Barack Obama “Hope” poster became the iconic campaign image for the first African American president of the United States. Early in 2008, Fairey produced his first Obama portrait, with a stenciled face, visionary upward glance, and the caption “Progress.” In this second version, Fairey repeated the heroic pose and patriotic color scheme, substituting the slogan “Hope.”

The artist’s intention that the image be widely reproduced and “go viral” on the Internet exceeded his greatest expectations. The campaign sold 50,000 official posters; a San Francisco streetwear company produced T-shirts; grassroots organizations disseminated hundreds of thousands of stickers; and a free downloadable version generated countless repetitions. Although the reproductions rarely convey the elegant surface patterning seen in this original collage, they forged an unprecedented and powerful icon for Obama’s historic campaign.

Shepard Fairey’s work is represented by the Irvine Contemporary gallery in Washington, D.C.  His art is in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.  In 2006, Gingko Press published a monograph on the artist’s career, “Obey: Supply and Demand.” A retrospective of Fairey’s work will open on February 6 at the Boston Institute of Contemporary Art.

Listen to an interview with artist Shepard Fairey (13:49)

Photo by Warren Perry
The portrait was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery on January 17; it is now on view on the museum's first floor.

Barack Obama/Shepard Fairey, 2008 / Hand-finished collage, stencil and acrylic on paper / Gift of the Heather and Tony Podesta Collection in honor of Mary K. Podesta / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution / © Shepard Fairey/ObeyGiant.com

Comments

[Blast free resume post]

Nice blog.I like Obama,because he is the good president.I love that, I wish I could go and see it!

[Hots]

this portrait is good, Obama is hope

[Naruto]

I like Obama and I like this Potrait

[Inter]

Good potrait, I like it, maybe I can collect it

[toplum]

Thanks All these pictures are beautiful, I’m from Ishkashim, Badakhshan and all these pictures make me miss home even more, good job guys, next time take me with you!

[toplum]

I love that, I wish I could go and see it!

[Franquicias]

Really beautiful portrait!

[RSS]

I have a support for Obama to make a better world than ever..

[Banksy Art]

Great portrait, great president. Here is to the future...

[Ben]

i like it. It's my favort picture of obama

[Obr]

so nice, Its the true man

[Stdsa]

cool man, where you take it, I want it, Can i Collect It? because, Obama is the real

[Rusli Zainal]

So Nice.... :-)

[martin anthony duffy]

what is wrong with America,warhol got away with far worse and was celebrated for it,this work will live longer and shout louder than it's detractors. Why can't they be honest and admit their problem with the image has a more sinister motive than mere art criticism

[mind author]

great photo..hmm but i don't like obama

[Müzik Dinle]

barrack obama is very beatuful ..... thanks admin...

[Azim]

The portrait is good

[Vilis Inde]

CONDONING COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT?
The issue of copyright infringement should play a significant role in the decision of what is and is not displayed in the NPG. Fairey has recently admitted that he lied about the source of the image and also admitted to destroying documents that were relevant to the copyright case between Fairey and the Associated Press.
Although, a court might find that Fairey's use of an AP photograph falls within some exception to the copyright infringement laws, this determination has not yet been made.
I am shocked that the NPG would ignore this underlying issue despite the popularity of the image and its message of "Hope." The legal issue is not some esoteric meaningless question, but has been discussed throughout the country. The display of the portrait seems to condone copyright infringement in this case. This sends the absolute wrong message about respect for the law in the arts.

[john]

Actually I didnt write comments but I cant help writing for Obama. Isn't he different than other politicians?

[ssk sorgulama]

support it, looking future

[Portrait Artist Kate]

He has been made a saint and a saviour before has had a chance to prove himself. He represents hope because the last one was so hopeless.

[Zena]

Nice portrait mate :)
I wish I could meet President Obama someday...

[Alex Krasky]

Its beautifull. I am an Artist liveing in Las Vegas. Right now I am in process of drawing of the big Painting for our President. You can see it on this link. I hope to hand it personally to our President.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqACb1bbT4o

[Sturban]

much of Obey's work gets publicity but creating this piece and the fact that it was used as the campaign really elevated Obey's standing and wouldn't have done any harm to his streetwear clothing label.

[Sherree]

I believe this a very iconic painting, and will be remebered historically.
Lets hope americans don't lose sight of obama's importance.