Shepard Fairey: Branding Artwork

Back in September, I wrote a blip about how seeing Shepard Fairey's artwork at the Hotel des Artes was the highlight of an art exhibit that my buddy d was involved with. (I love d's art, I've just been looking at it all my life.)

So I was happy to see this week's article about Fairey on Creativity Online, but was even happier about it actually being pretty dope and giving real insight into his thinking.

Personally, I just love the idea of honoring and respecting the intelligence of the consumer. Instead of creating some crass nonsense with no real idea behind it, why not assume a more creative approach by developing work that features a brand in a more artistic and honest way? One which elicits an emotional response that endears people to a brand?

It's a tough line to walk. But Fairey's shop, Studio Number One, seems to be doing just that.

I could go on and on about this fine line that exists between art and marketing, between content that expresses and inspires vs. that geared only towards commercial goals.

But check out the Fairey video that's embedded about halfway down the article page.

(And check out these pics I took back at the Hotel des Artes back in September.)