Shepard Fairey talks street-art profits, being sued for 'Hope' at ArtCenter College of Design

Should art be profitable? Shepard Fairey says yes. The famed L.A. street artists reveals his success and failures -- including the Obama Hope poster -- at ArtCenter Graphic Design Department's 3x3 lecture series featuring creative entrepreneurs.

[@lawrencedavey4345]

I hate how people see successful street artists as sell outs, people need to respect the fact that artists need to fund their art, they cannot create if they cannot afford the tools to do so. I personally feel that the reason why artists 'sell out' is that they simply have reached the time in their career where they have the freedom and opportunity to make money and live through their creative roots. Although I also have a parallel respect for those street artists that dont 'sell out'.

[@yellowdough2001]

Shepard is definitely a leader and most are just lambs / sheep following him - hope to see more creative artwork from the artist community.

[@isabelizzymsebaker2169]

Amazing art,I like that you are doing what Picaso states...Perfect you have a gift and a love,sole passion absolutely brilliant : )

[@AnarchyandEquality]

You can't call street artists sell outs for doing art. If they were to do a Nike poster, or Vans poster, or Converse poster (etc), you would chew them out, and point fingers, and call them poser sell outs, but look down at your feet. What are you wearing? Nikes, Vans, Converse (etc). You are accusing these people of being sell outs while you're sitting their buying in to the corporations. Contradictory.

[@Trillasecond]

The more I heard of him the more he started to appear like a sell-out and I had lost a bit of respect for him. But to hear him be upfront about the work he did with Sprite for example I've managed to regained that sense of respect. He's a smart guy. I wish he'd go on further about the psychology of his work & his personal perspectives on Heidegger work.

[@unity2BC]

i love some of the art design of his work ,its just the obey thing ,fairley you say its meant to reflect the oposite ,im not convinced buddy its such an emotive and very timely word to be using right now .

[@nazaxprime]

Is this actually uploaded by representatives of Art Center? Am I missing something? Why does this look like it was uploaded from a can tied to youtube with a length of twine? Thanks for the content, but is there some kind of subliminal message here?

[@robertroseman2976]

i dont think this has been viewd enough

[@jerkinstillalive1]

Pnhasset is right

[@PNHassett]

If you go to Rhode Island School of Design or Art Center College of Design, aren't you already sucking up to Capitalism and being a sell out? You don't go to those schools unless you have plans to work for corporations....to go pay your enormous tuition at least.

[@KeyDyer]

Any change in your ideas 10 years later ? Investing in yourself is being a sellout still?

[@PNHassett]

@@KeyDyer I bought a house during the Covid Crisis. Wouldn't been able to do that if I was 6 figures in debt, however buying a house is investing in yourself.

[@KeyDyer]

@@PNHassett but doesn’t buying a house put you into debt? It’s just a matter of perspective on selling out. I don’t even really care lol I just think it’s silly to think everyone going to RISD is inherently a sellout , maybe they’re just YOUNG KIDS who have been told education is how you get to your dreams. Not saying it’s how it works, but I’ve been sold the lie before too.

[@PNHassett]

@@KeyDyer I find a lot of this art schools are selling you that we are the gatekeepers to the art and the art world. Ultimately, art is not alchemy and you have to search for instructors that teach you what you want to know.....that doesn't necessarly mean you have to pay top buck to do that. If you're a lunk head like me, it's a waste of money if you need to take a class(es) several times to get it. Most people that go to these schools can't do life drawing when they leave because not enough time is alocated to learn it.