Young Black Achievers

Public Art

Artists Talk with LVA: April 20, 2023

Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary artist, activist, and founder of OBEY Clothing who emerged from the skateboarding scene. In 1989 he designed the "Andre the Giant Has a Posse" (...OBEY...) sticker campaign while attending the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).

Fairey designed the Barack Obama "Hope" poster for the 2008 U.S. presidential election. The Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston has described him as one of the best known and most influential street artists. His work is included in the collections at The Smithsonian, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Louisville, Kentucky native Eddie Donaldson moved to Los Angeles in 1986 and became involved with the graffiti movement as an alternative to the turbulent gang activity of his generation. Immersed first as an artist amongst diverse L.A. crews like TCF, AWR, and The Seventh Letter, Donaldson had the vision to develop their homegrown graffiti movement into something beyond the streets. His loyalty and business sensibility transformed the graffiti scene and he evolved into the point person for producing art events and exhibitions that inspire and spread the stylistic of southern California art into the world. In 2000, his groundbreaking website GuerillaOne became the first online graffiti portal, uniting the growing subculture globally and changing the landscape for connection amongst artists, fans, and collectors. By inspiring value in artists as influencers and activists, he has the unique ability to put together the right artists with the right projects to promote next-level visual expression. Communicating through fine art online, in galleries, at events, and on the street, Donaldson inspires his culture to grow and shine all over the world.