Shepard Fairey Has A Posse

"Shepard Fairey is a sellout..."

I've seen, read, and heard this or something like it over the last couple months, and it saddens me...

Comments like these stem from Hipsters, Skaters, self-proclaimed Street Artists, and the occasional "suit" who overheard some kids having a conversation in Downtown Crossing. Oh and i forgot to mention the disgruntled blogger looking for more hits*.

*By the way if you read this article, you're probably one of 2 (not including the contributors) who actually came across my blog.

What constitutes being a sellout?
Is it:
- creating a clothing line based off your original artwork
- selling that clothing online and in boutiques
- creating an iconic piece of political art that will resonate for generations to come
- being interviewed by a multitude of media organizations (the majority being of the independent type)
- selling books of your work
- having your work in galleries and museums
- seeing pictures of your work posted on blogs, flickr, and facebook accounts

You're right, what a fucking sellout...

I mean what artist dead or alive would want their artwork critiqued by millions of people? What artist would want to be publicly recognized for their contribution to Arts and it's community by a national figure like the President of the United States?

Just because someone becomes famous for what they've achieved DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE A SELLOUT. Besides Andy Warhol I don't think I can recall another living artist achieving such "celebratory" status. What's even more interesting is that Shepard achieved this by completely avoiding the "elitist" channels (i.e. galleries and museums). His work is more prominent on a street corner than in a Guggenheim, and that is the true nature of his work.

If you watch any interview, or read any blurb from Shepard you will notice that he almost always stresses the point that his art is interactive.

I believe that his work is for the masses, and his themes are direct representation of that. Rather than going to see the art, the art is brought to you. His ability to interact with society at such a "grass roots" level defies the common laws of art, and challenges the viewer to react to what they see. Whether that person enjoys what is actually contained within the piece should not be the point. It is the fact that they stopped and took time to actually engage it.

The question should not be what, but why.

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sell·out
Pronunciation:
\ˈsel-ˌau̇t\
Function:
noun
Origin:
1855–60, Americanism; n. use of v. phrase sell out

1. an act or instance of selling out.
2. an entertainment, as a show or athletic event, for which all the seats are sold.
3. Informal. a person who betrays a cause, organization, or the like; traitor.
4. Informal. a person who compromises his or her personal values, integrity, talent, or the like, for money or personal advancement.


If Shepard Fairey is truly a sellout, please enlighten me on what cause, organization he has betrayed. Or better yet what personal values, integrity, talent he has compromised for money or personal advancement.

...chumps