Interview with Shepard Fairey

Fresh off a dramatic New York solo show, Shepard Fairey’s presence has never been so visible. Nicole Pasulka of The Morning News has a great interview with Fairey delving into how his art has evolved from a capitalistic critique into a more potent and overtly political message. He goes on to explain how his Andre the Giant stickers launched his career and the heat he’s taken for his commercial work.

Of particular interest:

You’re known for having an anti-establishment message. Do you get shit for being a “street artist” and doing corporate design work?

Of course I do. People will give you shit for almost anything besides crucifying yourself. People say, “Oh, he did this street art thing and now he’s just cashing in on it.” I couldn’t survive from art until about three years ago. I had to do graphic design because I couldn’t make a living until very recently. I always felt that graphic design was a good way to continue honing my art skills and make a living creatively. You can call someone a sellout if they do graphics for a company they don’t ethically agree with [solely] for the money. I’ve turned down jobs for companies when I’m not comfortable with they’re doing.

Check out the complete interview here.