Shepard Fairey Creates Icon Image of Imprisoned Burmese Leader Aung San Suu Kyi

Over the years, Shepard Fairey's prolific peace-and-justice propaganda have formed an unmistakable design aesthetic, whether used to immortalize hip-hop legends and punk-rock stars, raise awareness on environmental issues, or voice frustration over the long-running war in Iraq. Now, the artist behind the iconic and ubiquitous Obama "HOPE" image, has lent some ink to Aung San Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy opposition leader of Myanmar (formerly Burma) who has been under house arrest for 13 years after the country's military government overrode her victory in a 1990 election.

Fairey's portrait of Suu Kyi will provide public support for the Human Rights Action Center and the U.S. Campaign for Burma, which are working to rally together the global community in the effort to free the leader and establish democracy in her country. Using his distinctive red hues, Fairey depicts a smiling Suu Kyi with a dove drawn on her chest and displays a banner reading "FREEDOM TO LEAD" at the top edge of the illustration. Signed prints are available at Fairey's website for $35 a piece with proceeds going toward the efforts of the aforementioned organizations.

"Aung San Suu Kyi is the Nelson Mandela of Asia," said Jack Healey, the head of the Human Rights Action Center, in a statement. "Shepard's tribute to her will remind the world she is the rightful leader of Burma in a powerful way. I always felt it was his image that galvanized the Obama movement. God willing, it will do the same for Aung San Suu Kyi and those fighting for the human rights in her name."

The "Freedom To Lead" campaign has also found a partner in Causecast, an online social action network. Causecast will provide daily posts about Suu Kyi on FreedomToLead.Causecast.org and on its Twitter account (@Causecast), keeping readers informed with facts, articles, and ideas for coalition members to show support in various online media.