Obey. Power to the peaceful

From 6 May to 6 September 2026, Intesa Sanpaolo presents at its Gallerie d'Italia – Naples museum the exhibition OBEY: Power to the Peaceful, curated by Giuseppe Pizzuto and dedicated to Shepard Fairey, internationally known as Obey, one of the most influential artists on the contemporary urban scene.

Organised under the patronage of the City of Naples, the exhibition explores the tension between major global imbalances – environmental, social and political – and the enduring possibility of collective change grounded in the power of peace as a political act. Shepard Fairey's works, direct, graphic and forthright, have long reflected the contradictions of our time: propaganda and counter-information, justice and inequality, denied rights and voices of resistance.

The exhibition unfolds across four main thematic sections – People Power, Propaganda, War and Peace, and Social Justice – highlighting the political, social and cultural dimensions of Obey's artistic practice. Through an immediate and highly iconic visual language, the works do more than capture attention: they invite visitors to question the mechanisms that shape contemporary society, from the construction of consensus to forms of collective participation.

At the heart of the exhibition lie key themes such as the role of communities as drivers of change, the power of images to influence perceptions and behaviours, the constant tension between conflict and the possibility of peace, and the need to reflect on inequality and demands for social justice. Through faces, symbols and references to visual, musical and political culture, the works create a collective narrative that calls for responsibility, awareness and engagement.

Following the exhibition dedicated to JR, which transformed Gallerie d'Italia – Naples into a space for reflection on collective identity and the social dimension of public art, the programme continues with a new chapter exploring the dialogue between contemporary art and urban space. With OBEY: Power to the peaceful, the museum continues to investigate art as a critical and participatory language, capable of fostering dialogue, raising awareness and imagining new forms of coexistence and collective transformation.

Michele Coppola, Executive Director for Art, Culture and Historical Heritage of Intesa Sanpaolo, stated: "We have collaborated with OBEY to bring a project of overwhelming expressive power to Naples, featuring works that are, in some cases, previously unseen and demonstrate a strong commitment to social issues. Shepard Fairey's art, which is recognised worldwide, speaks to everyone, contributing to the reflection on the enormous power of images in promoting essential issues such as peace, coexistence and human rights. Gallerie d'Italia is an open and dynamic museum, with audiences of varying ages, interests and curiosities, thanks to a cultural programme that ranges from historical artefacts to the vibrancy of contemporary pop icons."... read the rest of the article»