OBEY in Naples: Shepard Fairey’s street art at the Gallerie d’Italia (and on the streets)
Until 6 September 2026, the Gallerie d’Italia on Via Toledo are hosting one of the most talked-about and most-visited exhibitions of the Italian summer: “OBEY: Power to the Peaceful”, dedicated to Shepard Fairey – known by his artist name OBEY – the American artist who has transformed street art into a universal political language.
If you haven’t seen it yet, there’s still time. If you’re planning a trip to Naples, put it at the top of your list.
Who is OBEY and why does his art resonate so deeply?
Shepard Fairey began in 1989 with an ironic sticker featuring André the Giant, which he created whilst studying design. From that small act of provocation, he has built one of the most recognisable visual languages on the planet.
His ‘Hope’ poster for Barack Obama in 2008 became one of the cultural symbols of the decade.
The exhibition layout: four sections, over 130 works
The exhibition brings together over 150 works, including iconic pieces, fifteen previously unseen works and rare archive pieces, created on paper, wood, canvas and aluminium. The exhibition is divided into four main sections: People Power, Propaganda, War and Peace, and Social Justice.
The section New Works brings together works created specifically for Naples: the floral motif serves as a symbolic thread running through the exhibition — the flower as an image of delicacy and resilience, in dialogue with the city’s artistic and poetic tradition.
Naples as a backdrop: art takes to the streets too
The exhibition is not confined to the museum’s galleries.
The project also extends into the urban space: OBEY has created a piece on the monumental staircase of the Church of Donnaregina Nuova, part of the MuDD circuit, and has painted a large mural at 15 Via Carlo Miranda, in the Ponticelli neighbourhood.
Visitors to the museum exhibition can then explore these urban interventions and see how Fairey’s work moves beyond the exhibition walls to occupy public space — just as it has always done all over the world.
Practical information
- Where: Gallerie d’Italia – Naples, Via Toledo 177;
- Until: 6 September 2026;
- Opening hours: Tue–Fri 10.00–19.00; Sat–Sun 10.00–20.00; closed on Mondays;
- Prices: full price €8, concessions €4; free for under-26s, school groups and Intesa Sanpaolo customers;
- Bookings: gallerieditalia.com | freephone 800 167 619;
To go with it: a stroll along Via Toledo
The Gallerie d’Italia are situated on Via Toledo, one of Naples’ liveliest and busiest streets. A visit to the exhibition fits perfectly into a stroll that can take you past the Toledo Arte metro station (one of the most beautiful in Europe), Piazza del Plebiscito, the Royal Palace, Castel Nuovo and the seafront. A morning or an afternoon that is a feast for the eyes and the mind.
Where to stay
OBEY (Shepard Fairey). Biography
Shepard Fairey (Charleston, 1970) is the artist behind Obey, whose pseudonym derives from the 1989 ‘André the Giant has a Posse’ sticker campaign, created whilst he was still a student at the Rhode Island School of Design.
Since then, his name has been associated with the iconic stylised face of the French wrestler André the Giant, and his artistic journey has continued through hip hop and punk rock – cultures that have taught him to challenge social conventions.
Through this artistic vision that underpins all his works, the street artist invites the public to reflect and take a critical stance on issues of great environmental, social and political significance.
Shepard Fairey’s artistic language is minimalist, bold and draws inspiration from 20th-century avant-garde and propaganda art, ranging from Futurism to Russian Constructivism. Shepard Fairey has exhibited at major cultural institutions and galleries around the world.
