The Artist Behind the “Hope” Poster Is Mad At Obama

Damian Dovarganes/AP

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Shepard Fairey’s hopes are dashed.

Fairey, the artist who created the iconic “Hope” poster during Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, says in a new interview that he is disappointed by Obama’s performance as president.

While discussing his new web series “Rebel Music” with Esquire, Fairey was asked if Obama had lived up to the poster’s expectations. He answered, “Not even close.” Fairey explained: 

Obama has had a really tough time, but there have been a lot of things that he’s compromised on that I never would have expected. I mean, drones and domestic spying are the last things I would have thought [he’d support]. I’ve met Obama a few times, and I think Obama’s a quality human being, but I think that he finds himself in a position where your actions are largely dictated by things out of your control.

Don’t expect him to look to copyrighted Associated Press photos to create an image for Hillary, either. A jaded Fairey says that while he agrees with her on most issues, the “campaign finance structure makes [him] very angry.”   

And with this, the street artist may have provided the Republicans with the perfect tagline come 2016: Democrats, a hope deferred!

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