Shepard Fairey Exhibition at the Château de Tours: an immersion in the world of a committed street artist

Until December 7, 2025, the city of Tours is hosting an exceptional retrospective dedicated to Shepard Fairey, also known as OBEY, a leading figure in contemporary urban art, at the prestigious Château de Tours. The exhibition, titled “OBEY – Tours 2025,” highlights over thirty years of creation by an artist whose work—at the intersection of propaganda, advertising, and pop art—has left a significant mark on the international art scene. More than just an exhibition, it offers an immersive journey into a radical visual universe, politically engaged and deeply rooted in the major sociopolitical debates of our time. Screen prints, murals, skateboards, vinyl covers... around 400 works, on loan from passionate French collectors, are brought together to showcase his wide-ranging cultural influences—pop art, alternative music, and the DIY (Do It Yourself) aesthetic—which fuel the rebellious energy that permeates his art.

The street artist Shepard Fairey poses in front of “Liberté Égalité Fraternité”, one of his most iconic works, presented in two silkscreen print versions.

An Extraordinary Artistic and Activist Journey

Born in 1970 in Charleston, South Carolina, Shepard Fairey first gained recognition in the 1990s through his underground sticker and poster campaign “André the Giant Has a Posse.” This campaign later evolved into the iconic “OBEY Giant” movement, an artistic concept inspired by John Carpenter’s film They Live, conveying a powerful critique of authority, propaganda, and consumer society. What initially appeared to be a simple act of visual subversion became a full-fledged artistic manifesto.

Fairey truly entered global popular culture in 2008 with his “HOPE” poster, depicting Barack Obama, created during the politician’s presidential campaign. The artwork quickly became a worldwide symbol of hope and change, illustrating the power of art to shape political discourse.

Skateboards signed by Shepard Fairey, on display at the Château de Tours.

“A Delicate Balance” (2015) silkscreen by Shepard Fairey.  The artwork features a mandala composed of floral patterns in shades of blue and green, evoking the environmental threats facing our planet. This image served as the basis for Shepard Fairey’s Earth Crisis installation, which was suspended from the Eiffel Tower during COP21. A mural version was also created by the artist on Rue Jeanne d’Arc in Paris in 2015. More information on Shepard Fairey’s works is available at Class Art Biarritz.

Fairey defines himself above all as a committed artist: his work addresses universal themes such as peace, equality, social justice, ecology, feminism, and the denunciation of corrupt power. Through an instantly recognizable aesthetic, he succeeds in blending powerful messages with striking visuals, drawing on the graphic codes of 20th-century advertising and propaganda posters.

A powerful and immersive retrospective

Set within the historic Château de Tours, the contrast with Shepard Fairey’s radical visual universe is striking and effective. The exhibition unfolds across several rooms, tracing the major milestones of the artist’s career—from his beginnings in illegal street art, to his rise as an icon of graphic activism, and ultimately to his recognition by major international art institutions.

Above is a silkscreen print featuring one of street artist Shepard Fairey’s most iconic works, “Action Speaks Louder Than Words”, also known as “Marianne.” This is the second graphic version of the famous mural he created in Paris’s 13th arrondissement, as a tribute to the Bataclan attacks. It is currently on display at the Château de Tours.

The works on display range from iconic silkscreen prints to monumental murals, including activist posters, installations, and rare archival materials. Among the standout pieces are Make Art Not War, Peace and Justice, and Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité, created in tribute to the victims of the 2015 Paris attacks.

But the exhibition goes beyond simply placing artworks side by side—it offers a true journey of reflection, with each room exploring a central theme in Fairey’s work. One section is dedicated to environmental struggles, featuring posters that warn against the dangers of fossil capitalism. Another focuses on racial injustice, through portraits and slogans condemning police violence and systemic inequality. Other areas highlight both historic and anonymous figures who embody resistance, courage, and hope.

An Immersion into the OBEY Universe

The exhibition goes beyond a static presentation of artworks. It also offers an immersive and educational experience. Video projections allow visitors to witness Shepard Fairey’s creative process, his interventions in public spaces, and his political stances through talks and interviews. This multimedia approach helps visitors grasp the full coherence of his vision: an art form in service of society, never detached from reality.

“Paint It Black” by Shepard Fairey, presented by Class Art Biarritz, is a creation aimed at denouncing the normalization of oil in modern societies.  Discover more of Shepard Fairey’s works available for purchase at Class Art Biarritz.

A dedicated space also showcases the visual archives of the OBEY project, featuring reproductions of original stickers, posters, and sketches. Here, visitors can explore the richness of the artist’s graphic vocabulary: stars, raised fists, lotus flowers, stylized faces, and bold slogans. Together, these elements form a coherent visual language that transcends cultures and generations.

Many works are accompanied by detailed labels, explanatory texts, or quotes from the artist, allowing all visitors—whether seasoned art lovers or newcomers—to grasp the deeper meaning behind each composition. Some rooms even offer interactive experiences, such as creating your own activist collage or printing a mini OBEY poster to take home. Art as a Tool of Resistance

What stands out in this retrospective is the unwavering nature of Shepard Fairey’s commitment. He is not an artist riding media trends; he acts with consistency, determination, and a clear intention to use art as a peaceful weapon against injustice. His work follows in the footsteps of a long line of politically engaged artists—from Goya to Käthe Kollwitz, from John Heartfield to Barbara Kruger.

Where Fairey truly innovates is in his ability to combine this political stance with complete accessibility. His works circulate widely on social media, in the streets, during protests, on city walls, and in museums. They are free, reproducible, and shareable. They speak to young people, minorities, and disillusioned citizens. They reject the elitism of contemporary art by placing themselves at the very heart of society.

Mural created by Shepard Fairey in early 2025 on the wall of the Marriott Hotel in New Orleans.

Practical Information

Location: Château de Tours, 25 avenue André Malraux, 37000 Tours Dates: Until August 31, 2025 Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Admission: Free entry More info: tours.fr

Conclusion: An Unmissable Exhibition

“OBEY – Tours 2025” is far more than an exhibition—it is a call for vigilance, civic responsibility, and hope. Shepard Fairey shows us that art can awaken consciousness, challenge authority, and ignite the imagination. In a world saturated with images and noise, his works offer guidance, symbols, and tools for critical thinking.

This retrospective in Tours is a unique opportunity for the French public to encounter, in all his richness and complexity, one of the most influential artists of our time. Accessible, powerful, and deeply moving, it reminds us that art can—and must—be a catalyst for social change.