Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Rise Above Fist (Large Format)”?
Artist Statement
Part of the RISE ABOVE Series that debuted at the Merry Karnowsky Opening in Los Angeles
Summary
Rise Above Fist is a 2006 large-format screen print published by Obey Giant, measuring 42 by 29 inches in an edition of 50. The source identifies it as part of the RISE ABOVE Series that debuted at the Merry Karnowsky opening in Los Angeles, offered at $400. The title centers on a raised fist, a long-standing emblem of resistance and solidarity, paired in the series with the aspirational RISE ABOVE message. The theme signal also notes an angel motif. As a small-edition large-format screen print, it functions as a gallery-scale work within Fairey's RISE ABOVE body of work.
Why It Matters
This print matters because it joins the raised fist, one of the most enduring symbols of resistance and collective struggle, to Fairey's RISE ABOVE message. The combination makes it a clear statement of protest and solidarity, themes central to his political vocabulary. As part of the RISE ABOVE Series that debuted at the Merry Karnowsky opening in Los Angeles, it carries the provenance of a documented gallery exhibition, distinguishing it from his mass-market posters. The small edition of 50 and large 42-by-29-inch format place it among his more exclusive, exhibition-scale releases, attractive to collectors who prioritize scarcity and gallery context. The fist motif resonates across decades of activist imagery, and Fairey's graphic treatment situates it within that visual lineage while tying it to his own aspirational framing. For collectors of his political and protest-themed work, the piece is a strong anchor, both visually direct and thematically loaded. Its meaning rests on the symbolic weight of the fist and its role within a named, exhibition-launched series, making it a substantive entry in the activist strand of his catalog.
Collector Perspective
This print appeals to collectors of Fairey's political and protest-themed work and to those who seek his scarcer, exhibition-tied editions. With an edition of just 50 and a 42-by-29-inch format, it sits among his more exclusive large-format gallery releases, attractive to buyers who value low edition numbers and the documented Merry Karnowsky debut. The raised-fist imagery gives it strong, recognizable activist resonance, making it a bold display piece. It pairs naturally with the other RISE ABOVE Series prints to present the series as a group, so series-minded collectors will want it alongside the companion editions, while those drawn to protest symbolism will value the fist as a centerpiece of an activism-themed wall.
Historical Context
Created in 2006 and published by Obey Giant, this print belongs to the RISE ABOVE Series that debuted at the Merry Karnowsky Gallery opening in Los Angeles, placing it within Fairey's gallery exhibition activity of the mid-2000s. The raised fist it depicts draws on a long history of activist and labor imagery that Fairey frequently engaged with, while the RISE ABOVE framing reflects the aspirational messaging recurring across his work. Released as a small-edition large format, it reflects his growing presence in fine-art gallery contexts during this period and sits among the other 2006 RISE ABOVE editions that document this specific exhibition debut in his catalog.
FAQ
What does the imagery depict?
The title centers on a raised fist, a long-standing emblem of resistance and solidarity, combined with the series' RISE ABOVE message. The source also notes an angel motif among the theme signals for the work.
What series is it part of?
It belongs to the RISE ABOVE Series that debuted at the Merry Karnowsky opening in Los Angeles. Published by Obey Giant in 2006, it was released alongside the other large-format prints in that series.
What is the edition size?
It is an edition of 50 at 42 by 29 inches, offered at $400. The small run places it among Fairey's more exclusive, gallery-tied large-format releases rather than his higher-volume posters.
Where did the series debut?
The RISE ABOVE Series debuted at the Merry Karnowsky Gallery opening in Los Angeles, giving this print a documented exhibition origin within Fairey's gallery history of the mid-2000s.
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.