Obama poster artist: Graffiti is good for public

The American whose underground “Hope” poster for the 2008 Barack Obama election campaign became a global phenomenon has created new graffiti art for London because he thinks art should be free on the street.

Shepard Fairey, 42, has created three works in east London — in Ebor Street, Corbet Place (near the Old Truman Brewery) and Bateman’s Row — to coincide with his second exhibition here. He said: “It’s the foundation of my work. I still believe in it because it’s free for the public.” He said it was better for people to enjoy, or even be irritated by, free art than just a “commercial experience”.

Shepard Fairey, Sound and Vision, the Old Truman Brewery, from tomorrow until November 4.