Yes He Can! Obama Artist Lights Up Detroit

The striking posters have been popping up on neglected buildings, ever since the world-renowned designer arrived to install a huge mural in the city.

Shepard, famous for creating President Obama’s iconic 2008 Hope campaign poster, was commissioned to design a 184ft by 60ft mural on the side of a Detroit building, when some of his other works began to emerge across the sprawling metropolis.

Photographer Mike Kline has been trawling the city streets locating the works, and has found seven legal installations, and at least nine not-so legal discoveries.

The 45-year-old, who lives in Canton, Michigan, said: “They are mostly on neglected or abandoned properties.

"The CPA Building and the Wurlitzer are buildings that have been long neglected and are currently undergoing renovation efforts. Only the one at Eastern Market appears to be on an occupied property.”

Shepard’s commissioned mural on Detroit’s Compuware headquarters is his biggest work to date, and has taken 100 hours to complete, using more than 300 cans of spray paint.

He began producing the work on May 11, and since then other legal pieces have popped up in art-filled alley The Belt, and his iconic Andre face has appeared on a water tower with the owner’s permission.

The illegal images have appeared on neglected house and other abandoned buildings.

Mike continued: “As of June 3, two of them have been removed, both appear to have been cut off the buildings, taking the wood they were attached to.

“The latest report I could find discussing the investigation was from the 2nd of June, and indicated that it was ongoing.

"There is no question the pieces around the city are Shepard Fairey designs, the question is whether he had any part in putting them in place.”

The photographer, who has captured 22 images of the works, says at least 9 of them are illegal, but it has been reported there as many as 14 cases.