Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “War Is Over”?
Artist Statement
18 x 24 inch Screen Print Signed Edition of 350
Summary
War Is Over is a 2007 signed screen print by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant in a first edition of 350. Measuring 18 x 24 inches, the print pairs Fairey's bold, propaganda-styled graphic language with an unambiguous anti-war declaration. The phrase echoes a long tradition of peace messaging, rendered in Fairey's high-contrast red, black, and cream palette. As a mid-2000s release at an accessible original price point, it sits within his ongoing body of peace-themed editions that translate slogan-driven activism into collectible fine-art prints.
Why It Matters
War Is Over distills Fairey's recurring anti-war stance into a single, legible statement, making it one of the more direct peace-message prints in his mid-2000s output. The print matters because it sits at the intersection of street-art directness and gallery collectibility: a slogan that any viewer can read instantly, executed with the disciplined graphic craft that defines Fairey's screen prints. Issued in 2007 during a period of intense public debate over ongoing foreign conflicts, the work functions as both protest and decoration, letting collectors display a clear political conviction in a refined format. The relatively contained edition of 350 keeps it desirable without being inaccessible, and its theme connects it to a wider constellation of Fairey peace works such as Peace Tree, Peace Ornament, and Peace Bomber. For collectors building a focused anti-war or peace sub-collection, War Is Over is a cornerstone slogan piece that reads clearly on a wall and anchors the surrounding works thematically. Its enduring relevance comes from the fact that the message rarely dates: each new conflict renews the print's resonance, which is part of why Fairey has returned to peace imagery so consistently across his career.
Collector Perspective
This print appeals to collectors who prioritize message-driven work and want a clear, declarative peace statement on the wall. Its 18 x 24 inch format is approachable for framing and grouping, making it a natural companion to other Fairey peace and anti-war editions. Buyers drawn to Fairey's activist side, rather than his celebrity portraits, will value the directness here. The edition of 350 places it in a collectible but not ultra-scarce range, suitable for newer collectors entering the market as well as those rounding out a thematic set. Displayed alongside Peace Tree, Peace Ornament, or Peace Bomber, it strengthens a cohesive anti-war narrative across a wall grouping while remaining legible and impactful on its own.
Historical Context
War Is Over belongs to Fairey's prolific mid-2000s period, when he was issuing frequent signed screen-print editions through Obey Giant while expanding from street campaigns into a steady fine-art practice. The 2007 release sits within his sustained engagement with peace and anti-war themes, a thread that runs through earlier and later works in his catalog. During this era Fairey balanced overtly political slogan pieces with collaborations and pop-culture imagery, and War Is Over represents the more explicitly activist end of that spectrum. Its accessible original price and edition size reflect the Obey Giant model of the period: regularly scheduled drops that kept his work circulating among a growing collector base. The print helps mark the point where Fairey's protest messaging was becoming a recognized, ongoing part of his exhibition and editioned output.
FAQ
What is War Is Over by Shepard Fairey?
It is a 2007 signed screen print published by Obey Giant, measuring 18 x 24 inches and issued in a first edition of 350. The work pairs Fairey's bold graphic style with a direct anti-war message, placing it among his peace-themed editions from the mid-2000s.
How large is the print and how big is the edition?
War Is Over measures 18 x 24 inches and was released as a first edition of 350. It was published by Obey Giant in 2007 as a signed screen print, with an accessible original release price of $35.
What medium is War Is Over?
It is a screen print, the technique Fairey uses for most of his signed editions. The piece relies on flat, high-contrast color and clear typography, hallmarks of his propaganda-inspired graphic approach to slogan-driven peace messaging.
How does it fit into Fairey's body of work?
War Is Over belongs to Fairey's recurring peace and anti-war prints, alongside works like Peace Tree, Peace Ornament, and Peace Bomber. It represents the explicitly activist side of his 2007 output, when he issued frequent editions through Obey Giant.
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.