WASHINGTON -- The artist who created the iconic pop-art portrait which became the unofficial logo for Barack Obama's insurgent White House bid, has been arrested in Boston for defacing property with graffiti, US media reported.

Artist Shepard Fairey was arrested in Boston late Friday on warrants for defacing property with graffiti, the Boston Herald and other media outlets reported.

He is the creator of a popular red, white and blue poster, emblazoned with the legend "hope" "progress" or "change," showing the then-presidential candidate gazing off into the distance.

Fairey, 38, was taken into custody on his way to Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art where he was being honored with a solo exhibition of his work, called "Supply and Demand."

The street artist and political activist first became well known for his "Obey Giant" campaign of stickers, stencils, and posters of the early 1990s.

The Herald reported that two warrants were issued for Fairey last month after police said he tagged property in two locations with graffiti.

He is to be arraigned Monday on the misdemeanor charges, authorities told the newspaper.

Fairey's arresting image of Obama has been sold on hundreds of thousands of stickers and posters, and now hangs in Washington at the National Portrait Gallery.

The artist is also embroiled in a copyright dispute with The Associated Press over his use without credit or remuneration of the photo upon which the now-famous graphic-design image of Obama was based.