Drawing from graffiti and skateboard culture, Shepard Fairey created a distinct style that has become iconic and immediately recognizable. The artist has become a front runner in the street art environment and has given a voice to American graffiti art, encapsulating a new chapter for the movement. He has demonstrated a playful yet powerful approach to the world of politics, reflecting on its flaws and strengths in a publicly accessible street forum. Fairey's use of imposing lines, anti-establishment messages, and retro imagery has made his artwork synonymous with anti-capitalist and anti-surveillance ideals. Fairey’s work became more widely known in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, specifically his Barack Obama HOPE poster. The Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston has called him one of today's best known and most influential street artists. He is one of the most recognizable artists working today and an idol for a massive cultural progression.