People For spokesperson Shepard Fairey describes how important participating in democracy is while describing People For's Artists For Democracy campaign.
In the face of a critical election year, the nonprofit People For the American Way (PFAW) is reviving its Artists for Democracy initiative. This project, launched in 2016, unites renowned artists to create powerful works that ignite public discourse and inspire civic engagement.
This year’s iteration, Artists for Democracy 2024, spotlights established names like Shepard Fairey, the contemporary street artist and activist behind OBEY Clothing and the iconic Hope poster of Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, alongside multimedia artist Carrie Mae Weems and a roster of about 20 creative talents. The hope is to reframe and reclaim core American values like patriotism and democracy through art.
“Democracy is not a spectator sport; it requires active participation,” Fairey expresses. “There is so much at stake in this election, and it’s important that we all do everything we can to defend our fundamental freedoms.”