"I'd always wanted to make a Kurt Cobain tribute portrait, but I did not want to use one of the many well-known photographs as the reference for my illustration. Fortunately, I ran into Chris Petersen whose late sister Naomi was a photographer for SST Records and shot some great Nirvana photos in 1990. In one photo, I was immediately drawn to Kurt's gaze directly at the viewer, which I then tried to amplify in my illustration. I hope that my portrait of Kurt is a reminder that his artistry and humanity endure despite his struggles and tragic early death." -Shepard Fairey
