Shepard Fairey, the man behind the iconic Obama poster, has created a stunning portrait of Trayvon Martin. The painting, along with Fairey’s feelings about the controversial case, will be featured in the next issue of Ebony.
Almost three months have passed since the teenage boy was shot and killed by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman. As the case moves to the legal stage, it seems fitting that the artist behind the Obama “Hope” posters of 2009 focused on Martin for his next work of art. Ebony commissioned the contemporary graphic designer and street artist to create the work, and the results are leaving spectators breathless.
The image is the exact likeness of Trayvon Martin wearing a hoody. If you look behind Trayvon, the background has been transformed into a collage of people rallying together to fight for justice in the case. Even the print that makes up the young man’s hoody features people holding up posters in support of the murder victim.
“I have followed Trayvon’s case closely and I think any compassionate human being can relate to Trayvon as a brother or son and would want to see a thorough investigation into the killing of an unarmed person,” Fairey wrote.
Fairey also explained that he had a very specific goal in mind for the work of art. “In my portrait I wanted to emphasize Trayvon’s humanity as well as the public outcry for a just investigation into his death,” said Fairey.
The thought-provoking portrait will be featured on the cover of Ebony later this week.
