Photo by Jef Nickerson, Greater City Providence Under construction now, at Trinity Rep.

Jef (Shepard Fairey Mural):

Shepard Fairey's mural is underway on the Pell Chafee Theatre on Aborn Street.

Fairey is of course most famous for his Obey stickers which can be found around the city and around the world. As well as the Obama poster controversy from the 2008 elections.

In Downcity: Shepard Fairey Makes His Mark in Downcity Providence

The progress that Johann Bjurman, the Rhode Island muralist and fine artist who is executing Fairey's vision, has made has been unbelievable since he just started on Thursday. It has been amazing to watch the mural unfold and we can't wait to see the finished product!

Fairey and AS220's own Jukebox creator, Brandon Edens will be honored at this year's Foo Fest, AS220's 25th anniversary, with the "Free Culture Award", a national honor bestowed every other year on two artists

AS220: Shepard Fairey Providence Silkscreen Red Colorway Ed. 400 - $75.00 : The AS220 Shop

AS220 has also commissioned a mural from Fairey on an exterior wall of the downtown Chafee Center, the piece will be the largest mural by Fairey in existence.

With plans for a downtown mural, Shepard Fairey returns to Providence. David Scharfenberg, Providence Phoenix:

The artist's return to Providence was born of a conversation between David Ortiz, development director for the arts group AS220, and communications consultant Andy Cutler on Cutler's porch on a warm day last fall.

Ortiz was searching for new ways to engage with supporters and raise money. And Cutler suggested reconnecting with the underground rock and art movement that animated Providence in the late '80s and '90s and was so central to AS220's early work.

The talk turned, inevitably, to Fairey. And soon, AS220 artistic director Umberto Crenca was chatting with the artist about limited-edition prints that could be sold to raise money for the organization and an even bigger prize: the mural.

AS220 originally hoped to put the wall painting on the side of the Mercantile Block, a Washington Street building the group is renovating. The $14 million project is to include 33 live-work studios and a host of AS220 facilities on the upper floors, with a locksmith, pizza restaurant, and bar at street level.

Historic preservation concerns got in the way, though -- legitimate concerns, Crenca says -- and AS220 partnered with Trinity Repertory and the city to shift the mural to a rear wall of the Pell Chafee center, looking out over Aborn Street.