News

FIRST MUSEUM SURVEY OF INFLUENTIAL STREET ARTIST SHEPARD FAIREY COMES TO THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER

February 20—August 22, 2010

Shepard Fairey: Supply and Demand, the first solo show of renowned street artist and political provocateur Shepard Fairey, opens February 20th at the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) in the Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art.  An extensive exploration of the artist’s 20-year career, the exhibition is mounted in two parts: the works displayed inside the CAC and external projects.  The CAC’s galleries will house approximately 250 pieces ranging from his early Andre the Giant work to the iconic Obama HOPE image to new mixed-media works and a large-format mural in the lobby. The external projects are murals at sites throughout the Greater Cincinnati region that have been secured with the permission of the owners in advance. Shepard Fairey: Supply and Demand, organized by the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston, is on view at the CAC February 20 through August 22, 2010.

Fairey is an artist who has had a major impact on people in communities across the nation.  He was named this year's official Grammy Artist and his iconic Barack Obama poster inspired an entire generation to "Hope." His art reaches across generational, political and economic divides to bring people together in ways very few others have been able to do.  Raphaela Platow, Alice & Harris Weston Director and Chief Curator at the Contemporary Arts Center, explains “We hope Fairey’s show, addressing the important social and political questions that face people today, will stimulate invigorating discussions within our community.” First shown at the CAC in the groundbreaking group show Beautiful Losers (2004), Fairey has developed into one of the most influential street artists of our time, making huge waves in the commercial and political arenas.  Platow remarks, “We are excited about the artist’s return to the CAC at such a different point in his career, and in such a different context.”

External Projects
A unique aspect of the show is that the community is invited to participate through the external projects. Exhibition curator Pedro Alonzo comments “Fairey is committed to creating work that has meaning for his audience – by using familiar cultural iconography that people can relate to and by constantly bringing his work into the public sphere.” The CAC’s public call for sites has been incredibly popular, with enthusiastic response from Mason to Covington and more. Deadline for site submission is February 4. For more details, click here

Limited Edition Print
The CAC Store will be offering a limited edition print, created by the artist exclusively for the Contemporary Arts Center in conjunction with the show.

Publication
The exhibition is accompanied by an expanded, special edition of Supply & Demand, the retrospective publication of the artist's work, available at the CAC Store.

A Special Thank You
CAC Exhibition Sponsors: Duke Energy; Lightborne; Murray and Robin Sinclaire
CAC Supporting Sponsor: Jennie Rosenthal Berliant and Allan Berliant
Fine Arts Fund Corporate Partner: Macy's

About the Artist
Shepard Fairey was born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1970 and currently lives and works in Los Angeles, California.  He received a BA from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1992.  He has had recent solo exhibitions at White Walls Gallery, San Francisco (2008); Merry Karnowsky Gallery, Los Angeles (2007); Jonathan Levine Gallery, New York (2007); Stolen Space, London (2007); and Galerie Magda Danysz, Paris (2006).  His work is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London; the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego; and the National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.  Fairey is also the founder of Studio Number One, a graphic design company.

OPENING CELEBRATION
Friday, February 19
FREE and open to the public at 8pm—all are invited!
Shepard Fairey will DJ a set during the party.

Shepard Fairey: Supply and Demand is organized by the Institute for Contemporary Art/Boston. The exhibition was generously supported by Levi Strauss & Co.