I'm mischievous. The idea of taking risks and having real-world consequences energizes me.
Shepard FaireyWhat excites me is that, when things are tough, people become resourceful, and now with the Internet, social networking and the ability for people who in the past had been relatively powerless, they have tools to be able to spread ideas and organize. The urgency is there and the tools are there and I think that the possibility for really, really powerful results is there. I think it's all brewing, it's all bubbling up right now.
Shepard FaireyThe way I make art, the way a lot of people make art, is as an extension of language and communication, where references are incredibly important.
Shepard FaireyI think the Internet has definitely made it easier for people to have stuff seen, but it's also encouraged a level of ADD, where you see so much that if it doesn't make an impact on you immediately, you don't look at it.
Shepard FaireyI wear some of my stuff, but usually the less in-your-face designs. I get a little self conscious, there is a fine line between pride and ego.
Shepard FaireyFree speech is important whether you like what's being said or not. The reason why it's so important is that the entire spectrum of ideas needs to be heard so that the best ones are embraced and rise to the top. If you're a liberal and don't like conservative speech and you try to stifle that conservative speech, you need to be prepared for your own progressive speech to be stifled when the power shifts out of your favor.
Shepard Fairey