The Stamp of Incarceration

artist Shepard Fairey

Part of Open Source

The Stamp of Incarceration: James Anderson © 2015 Shepard Fairey. Shelly Electric, 1131 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia, PA. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • location

    Multiple Locations

  • Neighborhood

    Center City

  • completion date

    November 16, 2015

Shepard Fairey came to Philadelphia to meet with inmates at Graterford SCI, members of the Guild,  (Mural Arts’ re-entry program for justice-impacted young people), and others involved in Mural Arts’ Restorative Justice program. Based on this dialogue, he developed a series of images that kicked off a massive campaign designed to raise awareness about criminal justice. Going back to the origins of his Andre the Giant sticker, Shepard distributed stickers to the public for mass distribution, engaging in a participatory form of art.

Project Photos 

  • The Stamp of Incarceration: Amira Mohamed © 2015 Shepard Fairey. The Friends Center, 1500 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Fairey works on the installation of The Stamp of Incarceration: Amira Mohamed. | Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Fairey meets Amira Mohamed at the site of The Stamp of Incarceration: Amira Mohamed. | Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Fairey works on the installation of The Stamp of Incarceration: Amira Mohamed. | Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Fairey speaks to a large audience about the art of Jasper Johns at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. | Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Fairey speaks to a small group about the art of Jasper Johns at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. | Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Android co-founder Rich Miner, artist Shepard Fairey, and Open Source curator Pedro Alonzo speak at Free License: Open Source in Art and Technology at the Filmore Philadelphia. Photo by Steve Weinik.

Mural Locations

Related program

Restorative Justice

Transforming individuals, victims, and communities divided by the criminal justice…

More Programs

Open Source is presented by: 

Lead corporate support provided by 

Generous additional support provided by: 

Christian R. & Mary F. Lindback Foundation, City of Philadelphia, Ford Foundation, The Barra Foundation, Sadie Coles HQ London, Paula Cooper Gallery New York, and Blum & Poe Los Angeles, New York, and Tokyo.

For a complete listing of Open Source sponsors, visit the Open Source landing page.

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