Barack Obama "Hope" Poster
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
2008
The Barack Obama "Hope" Poster is a color lithograph on white wove paper designed in 2008 by American artist, graphic designer, and activist Shepard Fairey. The work measures 86 by 61 cm (36 by 24 in.) and is classified under graphic design.
The poster features a stylized, high-contrast stencil portrait of then-Senator Barack Obama, rendered in shades of red, beige, and blue. Obama is shown in a suit, white collared shirt, and red tie, with a campaign button featuring a circular sunrise motif pinned to his lapel. The background is divided vertically into blue and red sections. Across the bottom of the composition, the word "HOPE" is printed in large, solid block lettering. The design drew inspiration from the graphics of Soviet Socialist Realism and was derived from a photograph taken by Mannie Garcia for the Associated Press.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Shepard Fairey created the portrait in 2008 as a grassroots effort to support Barack Obama's first presidential campaign. Originally distributed as a street poster, the design was subsequently adopted as an official campaign image and reproduced widely across stickers, T-shirts, and online media.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Color lithograph on white wove paper
- Dimensions
- 86 × 61 cm (36 × 24 in.)
Technical characteristics
- Maker recorded
- Shepard Fairey, American, born 1970
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Art Institute of Chicago collection record for this single object; how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Museum object name
- Barack Obama "Hope" Poster
- Museum object number
- 2015.420
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.