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Jasper Johns is one of my all-time favorite artists, so it is an incredible honor to show alongside him. I think that the work I created for the show has some connection to works Johns did utilizing the iconography of Americana. The timing of this joint show is serendipitous because a lot of my work was moving in the direction of addressing the pros and cons of power, glory, and America. This show with the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art amplified my focus on the decline of the “American Dream.” Showing with the Halsey for the second time is great because they championed my work when I was far less established, and I like to be loyal to those who have supported me. I also think it’s a great opportunity to show how my work has evolved in the last dozen or so years. This exhibition also reveals how attitudes in Charleston have evolved about street art. When I showed in Charleston in 2001, my street art activities were a subject of controversy. This time around, I’ve been allowed to do large painted murals in amazing places. Since Charleston is my hometown, I also get to hang with my parents and old friends.
-Shepard
Photography by Jon Furlong
