vip in the city

E Pluribus Venom

At a reception for Shepard Fairey’s “E Pluribus Venom” show at the Jonathan Levine Gallery — on view through July 21, 2007.

As a risd undergrad in 1989, Fairey launched his “OBEY GIANT” street sticker campaign, which he dubbed “an experiment in phenomenology.” The experiment was a tremendous success: throughout the 1990s, the silk-screened visage of André the Giant turned up unexpectedly on streetlights, sidewalks and buildings around the world.

From those grassroots beginnings, Fairey built a clothing line, a design firm and a lifestyle magazine, and solidified his place in the pop art world with his street art, Fender guitars, album covers, and movie posters — including the one for 2006’s Walk the Line.

Fairey’s new exhibit includes small to large-scale, politically-charged paintings, prints, and mixed media pieces rich in metaphor. Its title, which translates to “out of many, poison,” is derived from the motto that appears on most American currency.

Levine was on hand to offer a brief presentation on Fairey’s works.  Judging from the buzz of the crowd tonight and the ubiquitous red pushpins – indicating pieces already claimed for purchase – the show was a smash hit.