About the artwork
Darby, created by Shepard Fairey in 2004, is a silkscreen print in an edition of 300, of which this one is number 211. It depicts an emblematic figure from the punk scene, treated in the artist's instantly recognizable graphic style, combining strong contrasts, flat colors and superimposed visual elements. The composition combines frontal portraiture and a collage of references from underground culture, with typography, motifs and image fragments that evoke the aesthetics of militant posters and fanzines. The chromatic palette, dominated by red, black and beige tones, reinforces the visual intensity of the whole and contributes to the immediate impact of the image. The work plays on the tension between the iconization of the subject and the raw energy inherited from punk culture, translating a universe that is both graphic and political.
Expert opinion
This silkscreen is fully in line with Shepard Fairey's approach, which explores the links between popular culture, political commitment and the history of counter-cultures. The choice to depict a punk figure underlines his interest in protest movements and alternative forms of expression. Works from this period are particularly sought-after, as they testify to the affirmation of his visual language, at the crossroads of street art and committed graphic design. Darby stands out for her iconic power and her ability to condense a collective imagination into a powerful image. It is a coherent piece in its corpus, both accessible and historically anchored, relevant for a collector sensitive to the interactions between art, music and contemporary visual culture.
About the artist
American artist, born in 1970. Lives and works in Los Angeles (USA). Muralist, illustrator and silkscreen artist, Shepard Fairey (Obey) is one of the most influential figures in urban art. Influenced by Andy Warhol, Barbara Kruger and Diego Rivera, he is best known for the HOPE portrait of Barack Obama he created for his presidential campaign in 2008, which has since been acquired by the National Portrait Gallery (Washington, USA). Following the attacks in France on November 13, 2015, Shepard Fairey created a Marianne with the motto "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité", a work that has now become a national symbol and is on display at the Élysée Palace. In 2019, he will create his hundredth fresco at Place Igor Stravinsky in Paris, next to the Centre Pompidou. Internationally renowned, Shepard Fairey can be found in the collections of the Smithsonian (Washington, USA), the Museum of Modern Art (New York, USA) and the Victoria and Albert Museum (London, UK). He has also exhibited in prestigious venues such as the Fondation Cartier for the "Né dans la rue - Graffiti" exhibition in 2009, and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston (USA), where his retrospective "Supply & Demand" was organized in 2009.
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