Third Eye Open Peace Mural in Naples

American street artist Shepard Fairey, known globally by the pseudonym Obey, has created a large-scale mural in the Ponticelli district of Naples, Italy, centered on the theme of peace.

The work, titled Third Eye Open Peace, is the second mural Fairey has produced in Italy. According to reporting by Il Mattino, the artist began working on the piece in late April 2026, with updates on the project’s progress appearing on April 30, 2026.

The mural incorporates a portrait that Fairey originally developed for his Make Art Not War print during the Iraq War. The imagery is designed to promote a message of global harmony and non-violence.

Symbolism and Artistic Intent

The Third Eye Open concept utilizes a visual of a third eye blooming like a flower. Fairey has stated that this symbol represents a quest for enlightenment, higher consciousness, and a dialogue with one’s inner self.

“I believe that what the third eye represents: a dialogue with one’s inner self, higher consciousness, and quest for enlightenment, is essential to achieve peace and harmony.”

Shepard Fairey, Obey Giant

This thematic approach is part of a broader artistic philosophy that Fairey summarizes with the phrase eyes open-mind open, suggesting that self-reflection and awareness are prerequisites for achieving world peace.

Concurrent Exhibition in Naples

The mural coincides with a major exhibition of Fairey’s work in Naples titled OBEY: Power to the Peaceful. The exhibition is hosted by the Gallerie d’Italia on Via Toledo.

Scheduled to run from May 6 to September 6, 2026, the exhibition features more than 100 works by the artist. This presence in Naples marks a return to the city for Fairey, who previously had work hosted at the Palace of Arts Naples (PAN) in 2015.

Fairey’s work in Naples continues a career defined by the intersection of public art and social activism. He gained international prominence for his stylized portrait of Barack Obama during the 2008 electoral campaign, which utilized the words Hope, Change, and Progress.