Shepard Fairey, the artist best known for creating the iconic Obama “Hope” poster in 2008, teamed up with fellow activists to judge a new contest which challenged artists to create images representing the dirty money flooding American politics.
The contest, dubbed art > MONEY, offered cash prizes and the opportunity for the winner’s artwork to be displayed and distributed widely. Fairey judged the contest alongside activists Lawrence Lessig and Annie Leonard, and Jesse Dylan, director of the “Yes We Can” music video.
“Creating imagery that is easily understandable and just getting the issue out on the table … is a top priority,” Fairey told msnbc’s Alex Wagner on Monday’s NOW with Alex Wagner.
The winner of the contest was 21-year-old Nashville-based graphic designer Landon Wix, who designed a fake Monopoly card which reads: “Keep money out of politics.”
“There’s a sort of legalized bribery that’s there,” Fairey said. “If you don’t pander to the people who can finance your campaign and owe them a favor, you won’t be a viable candidate.”
The Cycle co-host Steve Kornacki argued that the influence of money in politics was much more deeply felt in House and Senate elections than in presidential races.








