Shepard Fairey Reimagines Lady Liberty as Multiethnic Woman for TIME's 250th Anniversary Cover

Shepard Fairey created the cover art for TIME magazine's special issue celebrating America's 250th birthday, released on June 25. The cover reimagines the Statue of Liberty as a multiethnic woman, her dress adorned with symbols from American history including Martin Luther King Jr. with his 'I Have a Dream' quote, the moon landing, jazz motifs, and Abraham Lincoln. Fairey, founder of OBEY Clothing and known for his street art and political messaging, said he chose Lady Liberty for her iconic and universal appeal. He highlighted the statue's origin as a gift from France celebrating democracy and its evolution into a symbol for immigrants, linked to Emma Lazarus's poem 'The New Colossus.' The issue also features contributions from 250 experts selecting people, places, and cultural touchstones that shaped the nation. TIME previously marked the bicentennial on July 4, 1976, with a Thomas Jefferson portrait by Louis Glanzman based on Charles Willson Peale's 1791 painting.