Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Rise Above Peace Patterns (Black)”?
Artist Statement
18 x 18 inch Screen Print Signed Edition of 50. Release Date: 11/28/2006
Summary
Rise Above Peace Patterns (Black) is a 2006 Shepard Fairey screen print, signed and issued in an edition of 50 at 18 x 18 inches, with a release date of November 28, 2006. It is part of a two-color set that also includes a Red edition. The square print combines Fairey's 'Rise Above' slogan with peace symbolism set within his decorative patterning, rendered in his flat, propaganda-inspired graphic style. The source provides limited detail beyond size, medium, signed status, and edition.
Why It Matters
Rise Above Peace Patterns (Black) merges two of Fairey's most enduring motifs, the 'Rise Above' slogan and his peace symbolism, within a decorative square-format pattern. What makes it notable is its very small signed edition of just 50, far tighter than the 150 and 300 runs common in his 2006 output, which gives it genuine relative scarcity within the catalog. The square 18 x 18 inch format is also less common than his standard vertical poster dimensions, adding to its distinctiveness. Issued in two colorways (Black and Red), it appeals to collectors who pursue complete sets and who prize the smaller, more exclusive editions of this period. The combination of an activist slogan with ornamental peace patterning exemplifies Fairey's recurring strategy of presenting protest messaging as designed beauty. The source is comparatively sparse on price and broader context, so claims here stay cautious, but the documented signed edition of 50 is the clear differentiator: among 2006 Obey works, this is one of the more tightly editioned and collectible peace-themed releases.
Collector Perspective
With a signed edition of only 50, this print appeals to collectors who prioritize scarcity and exclusivity within Fairey's 2006 output, where 150 and 300 runs are the norm. Its less common square 18 x 18 inch format and existence in two colorways (Black and Red) make it attractive to set-completists and to collectors who appreciate Fairey's decorative, pattern-based work over his portraits. It fits naturally into a peace-and-anti-war themed grouping alongside Peace Ornament, Peace Tree, and Peace Bomber. The small edition and signed status give it a more exclusive standing than many same-year releases, making it a focused, distinctive addition rather than an entry-level piece.
Historical Context
Dated November 28, 2006, Rise Above Peace Patterns (Black) comes from a period when Fairey was issuing frequent peace-themed and slogan-based editions through Obey Giant. The 'Rise Above' phrase reflects his long affinity for punk and hardcore culture, while the peace patterning ties into the decorative anti-war motif he revisited throughout the mid-2000s. Its small signed edition of 50 marks it as one of the more exclusive releases of the year. The work sits in the Posters and Propaganda era, before Fairey's 2008 national breakthrough, when he was consolidating both his slogan vocabulary and his decorative peace imagery into recognizable recurring forms.
FAQ
What is Rise Above Peace Patterns (Black)?
It is a 2006 Shepard Fairey screen print combining his 'Rise Above' slogan with peace symbolism in a decorative square-format pattern, rendered in his flat, propaganda-inspired graphic style.
How large is the edition?
It is a signed edition of just 50, much tighter than the 150 and 300 runs common in Fairey's 2006 output, giving it genuine relative scarcity within his catalog.
What are its dimensions and colorways?
It measures 18 x 18 inches, a less common square format for Fairey, and was issued in two colorways, Black and Red, appealing to set-completist collectors. Its release date was November 28, 2006.
What information is limited for this print?
The source record provides size, medium, signed status, and edition but does not include the original price or extensive descriptive context, so interpretation here stays cautious and grounded in the documented edition details.
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.