The Story Behind the Iconic Obama Campaign Poster

obamaposter The story behind the artwork that defined the Obama campaign is a fascinating one. Shepard Fairey’s posters achieved prominence much in the same way that Obama did. They rose from the ground up. Everyday people supported and promoted his imaginative posters on the web, until they became something of a public phenomenon. And they turned the status quo — in this case, the tradition political poster — into something fresh and new. In this interview (iTunesFeedStream), Fairey, once a self-proclaimed “outlaw street artist,” talks about how got started with his Obama pieces, and how his most celebrated work ended up in the permanent collection at the U.S. National Portrait Gallery.

P.S. As you’ll see, we’re in the midst of launching a new design. Things are going rather smoothly. But if you encounter any problems, please be patient and please let us know. We’ll be making small tweaks here and there. Thanks!

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by Dan Colman | Permalink | Comments (7) |

Comments (7)
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  1. Ally says . . . | January 22, 2009 / 4:43 am

    Hi, how do I find past posts or the archives? Thank you.

  2. Ian says . . . | January 22, 2009 / 6:06 am

    Nice. I really like the new design. The header is excellent.

  3. Guru says . . . | January 22, 2009 / 6:26 am

    I second your thoughts. The campaign has indeed redefined campaigning. With his supporters using the most simple yet innovative approach, Obama has indeed revolutionized the concept of Personal Branding through the net. I just read an article that talks about how he went about using the most widely used media – the Internet, to “market” himself in the most innovative manner. Have a look at it: http://www.socialpeel.com/2009/01/21/3-mindblowing-online-tactics-that-took-obama-to-the-white-house/

  4. Dan Colman says . . . | January 23, 2009 / 1:34 am

    Thanks Ian for the kind words on the design. Appreciate that!

    Dan

  5. John Stauffer says . . . | January 23, 2009 / 6:32 am

    Dan, great new look. I often read via RSS and was surprised by the new design when I clicked thru this morning.

    Nice color scheme and masthead design. A+ !

  6. Dan Colman says . . . | January 23, 2009 / 11:15 pm

    John, Thanks for the positive review! So far two thumbs up. Not bad.

  7. Shepard Fairey Interview about his Obama Campaign Poster « Sir, I exist! says . . . | February 1, 2009 / 5:47 pm

    [...] Interesting podcast via OpenCulture. [...]

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    Open Culture editor Dan Colman scours the web for the best educational media. He finds the free courses and audio books you need, the language lessons & movies you want, and plenty of enlightenment in between.

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