National Portrait Gallery Gets Obama Poster: "HOPE"

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: January 7, 2009
National Portrait Gallery Gets Obama Poster
By Dave Itzkoff


Shepard Fairey’s poster of Obama hanging in Paris, one of a million or so places that the portrait turned up in 2008. (Ed Alcock/NYT)

Shepard Fairey’s ubiquitous illustration of President-elect Barack Obama, seen in rallies, parties, shop windows and construction sites throughout the 2008 election season, has found a permanent home. The National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., announced that it had acquired Mr. Fairey’s work for its collection. The portrait, a mixed-media stenciled collage that depicts Mr. Obama above the word “hope,” was created by Mr. Fairey, a Los Angeles-based artist known for rock-music album covers and a sticker campaign featuring the wrestler Andre the Giant. In a release, Martin E. Sullivan, the director of the National Portrait Gallery, said that the Obama poster was “an emblem of a significant election, as well as a new presidency.” The portrait is expected to be on display by Inauguration Day.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/national-portrait-gallery-gets-obama-poster/?hp

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. This is one of the most beautiful posters ever, IMHO...

I believe it belongs in the National Portrait Gallery.

K&R

:patriot:

[Starry Messenger]

2. Oh sweet!

I am really optimistic about the role of the arts in this administration!! I am so glad Shepard's work was acquired by the NPG. It's fresh and looks great and will have a huge historical value. It came out of the DIY culture and I'm glad to see it. Thank you for the link. :)

[Hekate]

3. Very cool. Congratulations to Shepard Fairey for this deserved recognition. nt