SUMMER '25 BY ELAN WATSON

Last week was an exciting one in Berlin. On Thursday, Shepard Fairey opened his exhibition “Photo Synthesis” at Fotografiska. The show traces his creative journey, from early wheat-paste street pieces and screen printing to digital collage and new works made specifically for this exhibition. It highlights how photography has continually inspired and shaped his artistic evolution, bringing together defining works alongside new creations that continue to transform cityscapes.The evening began with a performance by Berlin-based garage duo Cava, followed by a Q&A with Shepard Fairey hosted by Lodown Magazine’s editor-in-chief, and longtime friend, Sven Fortmann. After exploring the impressive Fotografiska building and the exhibition itself, the night closed with a DJ set by Shepard Fairey.With a mild hangover but high spirits, we gathered again the next evening at the OBEY Art Space to celebrate a 30-year friendship between Shepard Fairey’s OBEY and Thomas Marecki’s Lodown. Their shared roots in skate, surf, and street culture, a mix of activism, DIY creativity, and freedom, shaped a generation and continue to inspire today. From Cold War West Berlin to 1990s Southern California, their work has always carried a restless urge to disrupt and connect.“Today, those signals are fractured. The Pax Americana has crumbled, elites have failed, and trust has decayed.
 A reset is no longer optional. It must come from below, through art, through voices unafraid, through new networks of resistance and connection.”A special print and accompanying tees were created for the occasion. Both are now available at Fotografiska and online via Lodown.Pictures by Tilman Kerber and Julia Schoierer

We would love to introduce @perryier to OBEY. A film around NYC by @n.rollingsPhotos by @andreytarasovsMusic by @untitledhaloSong: El Prado Free Style

For Holiday 25, we worked with James Winstanley. Originally from the Peak District and now based in London, James is a creative blending analogue, digital, and experimental techniques. “The tone for OBEY Winter 2025 was set by the summer campaign I shot earlier in the year, something fun, slightly offbeat, and a little otherworldly. The brief was interpreted as a “festive but not Christmassy get-together amongst friends”, a sort of non-religious, non-time-specific celebration filled with warmth, comfort, and questionable party snacks (pineapple covered in cheese and cherries, anyone?)Shot in my house over a sunny day, we blacked out the windows until nobody quite knew what time it was. That discombobulated, homely feeling became the mood of the whole campaign. Cosy, familiar, yet just off enough to feel surreal.Repetition was key again: the same faces appearing in different roles, because everyone knows you can’t have a non-religious, non-time-specific celebration with just two people. By the end of it, the house reeked of a half-eaten cheese plate and a faint whiff of accomplishment. A playful mix of unease, warmth, and celebration… that’s the space I like to sit in. Always grateful to OBEY for trusting me to make something weird, festive, and real.”Creative Director, Photographer, Videographer, Producer: @jamwinstanModels: @ashleyplomerashleyplomer @rosarugosaaaaaaAssist: @peter.easondanielsMusic: @rorylovelessProp hand: @rosawhiteley

This past Friday, we celebrated the opening of “Middle Distance”, an exhibition by Ryan Hawaii. Much love to everyone who came through.This body of work explores Hawaii’s ongoing engagement with spiritual themes. A central motif is the eye, an allegory for life itself: the centre symbolising existence, while the chambers on either side embody “before life” and “afterlife.” Life, suspended between these two realms, becomes the “middle distance”, a space filled with its rich spectrum of experiences, both positive and negative.Another key theme is the transcendence of place. Through paintings and drawings, Hawaii takes viewers on a journey across physical and mental landscapes, transporting from Cuba to Morocco to London, and into the surrealist territories of his dreams. These subconscious spaces form yet another “middle distance,” bridging reality and abstraction.The exhibition reflects Hawaii’s long-standing connection to Amsterdam, which is also a “middle distance” between London and the Rhode Island streets were OBEY was born. The show serves as a the platform for Hawaii’s meeting of the minds with legendary founder Shepard Fairey.The exhibition runs until 31st October. OBEY Art Space Amsterdam | Runstraat, 25A special thank you to Kruz Leone and Styn for the fierce energy and music.Cheers Peroni + Viper for providing the beverages.Captured by Aryan Hamrani.

Why would I want to collaborate on an exhibition with Invader and Damien Hirst? I’ve long respected both artists because they are intelligent, conceptual, and relentless in their singular creative visions. “Obsessive” might be too mild a description to convey their drive, focus, and prodigious output. I can relate to them. I also admire risk-takers and troublemakers who can withstand condescending, impolite jabs from supposedly polite society. Those qualities inspired me to collaborate with them even though our aesthetics have no natural overlap or compatibility. A clash of styles in collaboration is a risk worth taking, and creativity can solve almost all problems. Malcolm McLaren once told me, “A glorious failure is better than a boring success.” So, with that as a guiding principle, what could possibly go wrong? – ShepardNewport Street Gallery, in association with HENI, presents Triple Trouble, an exhibition uniting three disruptive artists: Shepard Fairey, Damien Hirst, and Invader. Opening October 10th, this unprecedented show, curated by Connor Hirst, will feature a dynamic mix of individual works alongside bold new collaborations, many of which will be revealed to the public for the very first time.Join us for the opening event on Thursday, October 9th from 6pm – 8pm at Newport Street Gallery. Everyone is welcome, and no RSVP is required.Exhibition Details
Opening event: Thursday 9 October, 6pm–8pm
Exhibition dates: 10 October–29 March 2026Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am–6pm
Address: Newport Street Gallery, Newport Street, London SE11 6AJ
Admission: Free entry

Ryan Hawaii is a multidisciplinary artist from Catford, South East London, known for his work in fashion, visual art, and music. His work is defined by bold, hand-painted designs that blend punk aesthetics with personal and spiritual narratives.He began by customizing T-shirts for performances with his music collective Neverland Clan, which quickly evolved into a wider practice of fashion design, painting, and music production. His clothing pieces are often one-of-a-kind, featuring expressive illustrations and text that challenge societal norms and encourage self-expression.  His garments are often created bespoke for the wearer & some notable collaborators include: Kanye West, Skepta, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Gorillaz, Goldlink, Poppy Ajudah, Lancey, Ray Fuego & Virgil Abloh amongst others. For Ryan, garments are not simply fashion items but wearable artworks, with the wearer completing the piece by bringing it into the world. His cross-disciplinary approach continues to push boundaries, staying true to his DIY ethos that connects with a broad and diverse community.This spirit made a collaboration with OBEY a natural fit. Ryan will present a solo exhibition at the OBEY Art Space in Amsterdam, where he will showcase both fine art and one-of-a-kind OBEY pieces, including exclusive screen-printed tees available only at the Amsterdam flagship store. Through this body of work, Ryan explores spirituality by transforming complex ideas into simple, universal symbols. These symbols, alongside “Eyeman,” a recurring character central to his practice, run throughout the collection, embodying his ongoing search for meaning and connection.Exhibition: Oct 10 – Oct 31Opening event: Oct 10 6 – 10 pmOBEY Art SpaceRunstraat 25, Amsterdam