Sunday’s Washington Post profiles Echo Park artist Shephard Fairey regarding his iconic Barack Obama posters which have sold 80,000 copies so far, artist signed prints fetching $5,900 on eBay, and have been applauded by the Presidential front runner himself:

Fairey rummages around on his desk and produces a letter from Obama himself. “Dear Shepard,” the candidate writes. “I would like to thank you for using your talent in support of my campaign. The political messages involved in your work have encouraged Americans to believe they can help change the status quo. Your images have a profound effect on people, whether seen in a gallery or on a stop sign.”

Messages. Images. Effect. Someone understands phenomenology. And the thing about stop signs? “He’s kind of endorsing graffiti,” Fairey says, “isn’t he?”

While new runs of the poster repeatedly sell out, Fairey has made downloadable copy available online, for free. His next Obama project will be”ten thousand bicycle spoke cards.”

Interesting article, although it fails to ask Fairey what he thinks of the spoof “Snobama” posters inspired by his work.

Related posts:

1. The LA Times endorses Obama for Democratic Nominee
2. Barack Obama “steals” MySpace page from Silverlake man
3. Barack Obama in Los Angeles
4. Shepard Fairey vs. Frank Gehry
5. Shepard Fairey’s DJ’ing at my birthday party!