Street art, appropriation, and Nelson Mandela according to Fairey

Shepard Fairey is a street artist and modern designer who has created artwork for human rights campaigns, musicians, and political parties. He is most well known for his "Obey" campaign and for his poster of President Obama during the 2008 election. 

Shepard Fairey began using street art as a message when he was attending The Rhode Island School of Design. He used the bold faced Andre the Giant as a close up and often attached the slogan "Obey". In an interview for AIGA Fairey admits that he never really thought that it would be anything than just a little mischief and trouble. What it turned into was a cult following that lead to mass postering and creating politically charged artwork. Former President Bush was promptly featured in some of the later posters as a way of speaking out against his foreign policies. From Muslim women to AK-47s with roses in the barrels, Fairey has used several different focuses in his art.

Fairey has produced work all over the world and since the controversy with his 2008 "Hope" poster, he has in ways become the poster child for appropriation. The 2008 poster featured an image from the Associated press, and was used as a reference. The AP wanted credit for it, siting copy-write infringement. Fairey stood behind his work believing it fell within the "fair use" clause of the first amendment because the work was altered in such a large way. Pop-rock icon Iggy Pop interviewed Fairey and asked him about his stance on appropriation and copying artwork for Interview magazine. Fairey believes that using references or inspiration is fine, as long as a piece or style is not blatantly copied.nBoth him and Pop go on to say that to be used as an inspiration to make a difference or create art is wonderful.

Since then, Fairey has become a household name thanks to his Obey clothing line and his exposure from various paid projects. Recently Fairey has produced a mural in Johannesburg featuring Nelson Mandela's portrait and reference to the purple movement. Fairey is a firm advocate of human rights across the globe and of equality. This mural was made to honor the legend of the man that taught us so much.

TO see more of his recent works, check out his blog: http://www.obeygiant.com/

Koons, the master of bunnies, balls, and pushing the limit

Jeff Koons is an artist who is hard to describe with words. He is a post Warhol-pop-artist who has taken the traditional definition of art and spun it on its head. He is arguably one of the most famous living artists of our time. Jerry Saltz of Vulture describes Koons as "a complicated, bizarre, thrilling, alien, annoying artist".

He is more commonly known for his large and often extravagant statues of balloon animals and inflatable toys. One of his more recent series features ancient roman icons and large blue gazing balls. Sound familiar? Koons also portrayed Lady Gaga in this manner on her latest album cover referencing the birth of Venus. 

In the 1990's Koons "Made in Heaven" exhibition went on display and almost ended his career. The series depicted Koons and his ex-wife engaging in various sexual acts in several different types of media. Glass and resin sculptures on kama sutra positions, oil paintings depicting anal sex, porcelain busts of the couple, and all of this is entwined with floral sculptures and plaster dogs.  However extreme and vulgar this show was deemed, it still couldn't stop this tornado of a man. 

Currently the Whitney Museum of Art is showing a new exhibition, Jeff Koons: A Retrospective. The show runs till October 19th and features over 150 pieces of Koons iconic work. Some new pieces are also making their debuts here. Play-doh and the marvelous Pluto and Proserpina are newly completed works that will surely gain Koons more fame as the go to auction after their tour. 

It should also be noted that he often produces art works for humanitarian causes and has recently joined the Shot@life campaign to raise money for vaccines for children all over the world. In the past, he has worked with Hereditary Disease Foundation, the Koons Family Institute to help with the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, and the Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research.

Koons is a favorite of mine simply because. There is no deep reason or appreciation. I simply enjoy his contributions to the art world and how his mind has influenced the perception of art. 

For more on the exhibition or Koons himslef, check out the Whitney's website or Koons' personal website:

http://whitney.org/Exhibitions/JeffKoons

http://www.jeffkoons.com/current-and-upcoming-solo-exhibitions