"OBEY: Power to the peaceful" exhibition in Naples

Gallerie d'Italia - Naples, from 6 April to 6 September 2026, present the exhibition "OBEY: Power to the peaceful" curated by Giuseppe Pizzuto.

The exhibition is dedicated to American artist Shepard Fairey (Charleston, 1970), alias OBEY, one of the most influential artists on the contemporary urban scene.  Emerging from the skate culture and underground graphics of the 1990s, OBEY has established itself over time as one of the most recognisable visual languages in global public art. With posters, screen prints and murals in cities all over the world, Fairey has developed a powerful and immediate aesthetic that reshapes the codes of propaganda, transforming them into tools for social critique and political awareness.

With the poetic style that animates all his works, the street artist invites the public to reflect and take a critical stance on issues of significant environmental, social and political importance.  Shepard Fairey’s artistic language is minimalist and bold, and it draws inspiration from 20^th century avant-garde and propaganda art, ranging from Futurism to Russian Constructivism.

Produced in collaboration with Wunderkammern – a contemporary art gallery (belonging to the Deodato Group) that represents and promotes the artist in Italy, along with other established and emerging artists working in the public sphere – and curated by Giuseppe Pizzuto, co-founder and director of Wunderkammern, "OBEY:  Power to the peaceful" explores one of the most pressing issues of our time: peace as an active choice and a collective responsibility.  At a time in history marked by conflict, geopolitical tensions and sweeping social change, OBEY’s work invites us to imagine new spaces for interaction, solidarity and change.

With over a hundred works, including one-off pieces, screen prints, HPMs (Hand Finished Prints) and works on a variety of media, the exhibition covers some of the central themes of the artist’s research: the relationship between power and communication, the building of consensus, fights for justice, and the role of communities as agents of change.

The city of Naples, with its history of contrasts and resurrections, becomes the natural setting for this reflection: a place where art becomes a voice, a conscience and a transformational force.

Shepard Fairey (Charleston, 1970) is the artist behind Obey, a pseudonym inspired by the 1989 sticker campaign André the Giant has a Posse, which he created when he was still a student at the Rhode Island School of Design.

Ever since then, his name has been associated with the iconic stylised face of French wrestler André the Giant, and his journey has progressed through hip hop and punk rock – cultures that taught him to challenge social conventions. With the poetic style that animates all his works, the street artist invites the public to reflect and take a critical stance on issues of significant environmental, social and political importance.

Shepard Fairey’s artistic language is minimalist and bold, and it draws inspiration from 20^th century avant-garde and propaganda art, ranging from Futurism to Russian Constructivism. Shepard Fairey has exhibited at major cultural institutions and galleries all over the world.

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