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# Shepard Fairey, Creator Of Iconic "Hope" Poster, Goes To Trial Jan. 26
- URL: https://www.dailydetroit.com/shepard-fairey-creator-of-iconic-hope-poster-goes-to-trial-jan-26/
- Published: 2015-10-12T11:28:30.000Z
- Updated: 2024-02-27T19:49:17.000Z
- Author: Jer Staes
- Tags: #wordpress, #Import 2024-02-25 18:12, #daily-detroit-staff

He’s the creator of the iconic “Hope” poster that was part of the imagery for the Obama presidential campaign, as well as many commissioned (and non-commissioned) street murals across the country.

And soon, in Detroit, he’ll be going to trial.

Ot 9 a.m. on January 26, Fairey will face three felonies for defacing Detroit buildings with his art. He’s charged with two counts of felonious malicious destruction of property causing damage between $1,000 and $20,000, as well as one count of malicious destruction of property in excess of $20,000.

According to city officials, the total cost, including cleaning, repainting and rehabbing, was estimated near $30,000\. It’s alleged that Fairey did nine unauthorized art installations in Detroit.

Defense attorney Bradley Friedman said that “He’s beautifying with his artwork,” [according to MLive](http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2015/10/street%5Fartist%5Fshepard%5Ffairey%5Ff%5F1.html?ref=dailydetroit.com).

36th District Court Judge Kenneth King was clear in the preliminary hearing.

“You can’t put things on property without their permission,” said King. “If you do in fact have a fan base, if you do in fact play to this fan base – It’s not cute and it’s illegal.”

The 45-year old street artist recently painted a giant mural on the Compuware Building in Downtown Detroit, a commission from Bedrock Real Estate Services.

What do you think? Should the city pursue Fairey like this?