Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Icon Face Sculpture (Classic)”?
Artist Statement
Shepard Fairey Icon Face (Classic), 2026 Polyurethane Sculpture Custom Printed Box with Lid 10 x 6.4 x 1.9 in (25.4 x 16.2 x 4.8 cm) Limited Edition of 250
Summary
Icon Face Sculpture (Classic) is a 2026 polyurethane sculpture by Shepard Fairey, published by Beyond The Streets in a limited edition of 250. It measures 10 x 6.4 x 1.9 inches (25.4 x 16.2 x 4.8 cm) and ships in a custom printed box with a lid. The work renders Fairey's signature OBEY icon face as a three-dimensional object. It was released at $250 and is part of a Classic and Gold edition pairing. As a sculptural object version of the OBEY iconography, it translates one of Fairey's most recognizable graphic motifs into collectible physical form.
Why It Matters
Icon Face Sculpture (Classic) matters because it takes the OBEY icon face, one of Fairey's most recognizable and widely reproduced graphic motifs, and renders it as a physical, three-dimensional collectible object. Most of Fairey's output is print-based, so a polyurethane sculpture represents a different format that broadens how collectors can own and display his iconography. The Beyond The Streets imprint situates it within the street-art and urban-contemporary collecting world. Released in a limited edition of 250 with a Classic and Gold variant pairing, and presented in a custom printed box with lid, it is positioned as a designed collectible object rather than a wall piece. The modest dimensions and boxed presentation appeal to collectors who appreciate art toys and editioned objects. As part of Fairey's ongoing exploration of the OBEY icon across media, this sculpture extends a decades-long visual identity into the object realm, giving the icon presence and dimensionality. For collectors building around OBEY iconography, it offers a distinctive non-print anchor that complements stickers, screen prints, and offset editions of the same motif.
Collector Perspective
This sculpture appeals to collectors of OBEY iconography and to those who enjoy editioned art objects and designer collectibles rather than only wall prints. Its compact 10-inch scale and custom printed box make it suited to shelf or desk display, and the boxed presentation supports keeping it as a complete packaged object. The Beyond The Streets publishing connection draws interest from street-art and urban-contemporary collectors. With an edition of 250 and a companion Gold variant, completists may pursue both finishes. It fits well in a collection organized around the OBEY icon, sitting alongside icon stickers, screen prints, and offset editions as the three-dimensional expression of the same recurring face motif.
Historical Context
Icon Face Sculpture (Classic) belongs to Fairey's continuing development of the OBEY icon, the stylized face that has anchored his visual identity since his early sticker and street-art work. Here, in 2026 and through Beyond The Streets, that icon is realized as a polyurethane sculpture rather than a print, reflecting Fairey's expansion across media and into the collectible-object market. The Classic and Gold edition structure and limited run of 250 follow the editioning conventions common to his releases. Presented in a custom printed box, it aligns with the art-object and designer-collectible space that street-art figures have increasingly engaged. The piece demonstrates how a flat graphic emblem central to Fairey's career can be re-presented dimensionally while retaining its immediately recognizable form.
FAQ
What is Icon Face Sculpture (Classic)?
It is a 2026 polyurethane sculpture by Shepard Fairey that renders his OBEY icon face as a three-dimensional object. It was published by Beyond The Streets and comes in a custom printed box with a lid.
How big is it and what is the edition size?
The sculpture measures 10 x 6.4 x 1.9 inches (25.4 x 16.2 x 4.8 cm) and was produced in a limited edition of 250. It was released at a price of $250.
What material is it made from?
According to the release, the sculpture is made of polyurethane and is presented in a custom printed box with a lid, positioning it as a packaged collectible object.
Are there other versions?
Yes. The source lists Classic and Gold editions, so this Classic version has a companion Gold variant of the same Icon Face sculpture.
Related Works
About the Artist
Shepard Fairey (b. 1970, Charleston, South Carolina) is an American street artist, graphic designer, and activist, and a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. His 1989 “André the Giant Has a Posse” sticker grew into the global OBEY GIANT campaign — an ongoing experiment in propaganda, obedience, and visual culture. He reached worldwide recognition with the 2008 “Hope” portrait of Barack Obama, now held by the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. Across screen prints, stencils, murals, and collage, Fairey channels propaganda aesthetics toward themes of peace, justice, environmentalism, and civil rights. His work is in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Victoria & Albert Museum, and LACMA.