Shepard Fairey Goes Up in NY; Not Blind

Last summer Shepard Fairey was in town installing his exhibit at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery in DUMBO; new pieces also went up around the streets of Brooklyn during that time.

This past week, after a report came in that Fairey was going blind as a result of his diabetes, a whole new slew of his pieces went up (check them out below); while some thought, "for a blind guy, he's sure getting up," others questioned if the original rumor was true.

Animal, the source of the original story, says that once contacted, Fairey "vehemently denied that he’s losing his vision." However, he has had problems, and even surgery, in the past. He added that: “[W]hen I was in NY last summer for my show at Jonathan’s, I just had a bleed in my right eye and the whole time I was working on that show I only had partial vision in my right eye. But, I was still able to work, I could still paint and cut, and do what I need to do.”

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By Jen Carlson in Arts and Events on May 8, 2008 10:33 AM

Comments [rss]

Guest

#11, I never said anything about it being "dope" or whether the person creating it was a true New Yorker. And even if there is such a thing as a true New Yorker, it doesn't mean a thing. Yes, this may be the greatest city in the world, but being born in it doesn't make you anything more than someone born here. It gives no special status or privleges. Some of the greatest New Yorkers were born in other cities around the world and moved here to immerse themselves in the culture, while also bringing a little of their own culture to add to the mix. Without that, New York would just be another dot on the map.

Also, the thing with art that gets me is when people such as yourself try to pass themselves off as an authority on the subject by belittling others' work. It comes across as the jealous ramblings of a rival.

suepart

for number 3 and 4- if you think this is representative of the real or so called 'cultural' and diverse new york, then you don't realize that most of this so called street "art" is not made by new yorkers but transplants. in addition, the grand scale commercialization of these so-called subcultures must have slipped by you.

by the way, his stuff is not "fresh" anymore- it is stale. maybe before it was interesting, but his time is up, like hilary clinton's. lights out for giant. same old crap all the time, just on different scales, and always on very obvious themes. only suburban kids and city transplants could think this is "dope"

sonyactivision

Of all the garbage artists around, this guy has to go blind?

west side Michael

More post modern crap.

H.Bosch has nothing to worry about who ever he was.

Ethan

Negative Vibe Merchant

babyhitler

I really like him as an artist but I find he's very pretentious when it comes to other people vandalizing his work. It screams hypocrite when he goes out and vandalized other walls in the street but if someone does it to him he goes apeshit.

PBRK

at least he supports recycling

chris

total whole foods fresh.

sakebalboa

yo #1 don't be hatin. his stuff is hellah fresh. like whole foods fresh.

Guest

#1, bitter much? Just because you disagree with this person's artistic style, it doesn't mean you have to be such a douche about it. Did he do this to your house? NO! He did it in parts of the city that were already tagged or boarded or otherwise defaced. Take the board out of your ass and try to enjoy the nuances of New York Fuckin' City before they are all gone because of people like you who don't understand or appreciate just how interesting and unique this city is (or used to be).

fakenewyorker

i have to admit, his obama poster is pretty effective.

suepart

if you were blind, then you wouldn't have to put up with all this so called "street art" that plagues the city.

people should go to shepard fairey's house and wheatpaste their "dope" "art" and see how he loves the "underground" "scene"