The artist behind the iconic “Hope” graphic for former President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, Shepard Fairey, has now created a similar piece for Vice President Kamala Harris as she embarks on her presidential run.

On Thursday, Fairey, a renowned street artist and founder of OBEY Clothing, publicly endorsed Harris, unveiling a new graphic that captures her essence in his signature high-contrast pop art style. The artwork features Harris in shades of blue with striking red accents, accompanied by the word “Forward” at the bottom and her initials in the corner. Fairey noted that the graphic is based on a photo taken by White House photographer Lawrence Jackson.

In his statement, Fairey emphasized the significance of the word “Forward,” referencing Harris’ rallying cry: “We are not going back.” He expressed optimism about the political landscape, stating, “We have a very real opportunity to move forward… Politics is messy… but messy is no excuse for checking out.”

The graphic is available for free download and noncommercial use on Fairey’s website. He clarified that he was not compensated for this design and will not receive any financial gain from it. “I created this work purely in pursuit of a better future,” he stated, encouraging people to ensure they are registered to vote.

Fairey’s original “Hope” poster for Obama became a cultural phenomenon and was added to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery collection in 2009. For Obama’s 2008 campaign, Fairey produced various versions of the logo, including designs featuring phrases like “Change” and “Yes We Did.” He also created a similar graphic for Time Magazine’s 2008 Person of the Year cover.

Sayart / Sims green sims010@naver.com