Shepard Fairey | Art to Power – Art to Empower | 100th Mural – Providence, RI

shepard fairey art strips_

shepard fairey art strips_

The internationally renowned LA based street artist Shepard Fairey, returned to Providence, Rhode Island where he began his career attending RISD, Rhode Island School of Design, to create his 100th mural.

shepard fairey creating 100th mural pvd Providence, ,Rhode Island

Anjel Newmann AS220 Youth Director

Shepard Fairey 100th mural Providence RI pbn

Dedicated to the arts, it features a local woman Anjel Newmann, Youth Director at AS220 a prominent arts establishment in Providence.

 

 

 

 

After speaking to a full house and spillover crowds to two separate places also with capacity seating receiving a direct feed from RISD auditorium, he worked on the mural for several days, prior to the opening of his show through the collaboration with AS220, to create a pop-up gallery. His show Facing the Giant features the evolution of his work – from the beginnings with André the Giant going viral, which morphed into an iconic image of the giant, and a continued elaboration on similar themes embedded in many of his works. The line to the art opening wrapped around the block, with the mural in lit up splendor in view from the glass walled gallery front. The show will remain at 233 Westminster street in downtown Providence, Rhode Island until November 16th.

Back in his beginnings, as Shepard was always an avid skateboarder, a skateboarding group adopted some early versions of his work, the iconic giant face in stark red, framed within a star. His line of clothing and designs have continued to be adopted by the skateboarding scene. Decades of his art have made stances to power; speaking out against war and standing up for justice.

Shepard Fairey Manufacturing Dissent theculturetrip

Shepard Fairey Manufacturing Dissent, Renée Fabian’s clever play on words of  Noam Chomsky ‘Manufacturing Consent’ (1992) – an animated introduction to his concept on ‘How the Media Creates the Illusion of Democracy’.

Shepard dj’d old school punk for the duration of his art opening on Friday, October 25th, Spinning vinyl on turntables, with his laptop (plastered with stickers) functioning as a virtual mixer. He was animated throughout, singing and gesturing to the music. Signs urged people not to interrupt, declaring that he’d lost his voice…so as not to be distracted by the waves of people wanting a selfie with him.