Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Evolve Devolve”?
Artist Statement
18 x 24 inch Screen Print, Signed Edition of 450
Summary
Evolve Devolve is a 2008 screen print by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant in a signed first edition of 450. Measuring 24 x 18 inches, it was released September 24, 2008 at an original price of $45. The source description is limited, confirming the medium, dimensions, signed edition size, and the work's placement in Fairey's collaborations-and-pop-culture theme, but it does not detail the specific imagery or message. The title pairs the opposing ideas of evolution and devolution, consistent with Fairey's tendency to present contrasting concepts within his graphic, propaganda-influenced design vocabulary.
Why It Matters
Evolve Devolve is a signed edition of 450 from Fairey's productive 2008 output, fitting within his collaborations-and-pop-culture catalog. Because the source provides only minimal description, interpretation here stays cautious: the title's pairing of evolution and devolution echoes Fairey's broader habit of staging dualities and opposing forces, a recurring conceptual device across his work. As a standard signed screen print at an accessible original price, it represents the consistent edition-based practice that defined Obey Giant releases in this era. For collectors, its value lies in being part of the well-documented 2008 run alongside other prints of the same format and edition size. Without fuller source detail, claims about its precise message or imagery remain limited, but it functions as a coherent piece within Fairey's graphic-print continuum, appealing to those assembling a broad survey of his late-2000s editions rather than seeking a specific narrative hook.
Collector Perspective
This print suits collectors building a broad survey of Fairey's 2008 signed editions rather than those seeking a specific thematic centerpiece. As a signed first edition of 450 at an originally accessible price, it is an approachable acquisition that fits naturally among contemporaneous Obey Giant releases of the same format. Its graphic, dualistic title gives it conceptual interest, and it displays comfortably alongside other 2008 prints in Fairey's pop-culture vein. Buyers who prioritize completeness of the period, or who appreciate the artist's recurring contrast motifs, will find it a sensible addition. Given the limited source detail, it is best approached as a representative edition piece.
Historical Context
Released September 24, 2008, Evolve Devolve belongs to Fairey's steady stream of signed screen-print editions from that prolific year, issued through Obey Giant. It sits within his collaborations-and-pop-culture thread and shares the standard format and signed edition of 450 common to many releases of the period. The title's evolution-versus-devolution framing aligns with Fairey's broader interest in opposing forces and dualities, though the source does not elaborate on the specific imagery. Within his arc, the print represents the routine, consistent edition practice that underpinned the OBEY enterprise during 2008, the same year his profile surged on the strength of higher-impact works.
FAQ
What are the specifications of Evolve Devolve?
It is a 24 x 18 inch screen print, a signed first edition of 450, published by Obey Giant in 2008. It was released September 24, 2008 at an original price of $45. The source confirms these production facts but provides limited descriptive detail.
What does the print depict?
The source does not detail the specific imagery. The title pairs the opposing ideas of evolution and devolution, consistent with Fairey's frequent use of contrasting concepts, and the work falls within his collaborations-and-pop-culture theme.
Is the print signed?
Yes. The source lists it as a signed first edition of 450, published by Obey Giant in 2008 at a $45 release price. No further authentication details beyond the signed-edition designation are specified in the source record.
How does it fit Fairey's 2008 output?
It is one of many signed screen-print editions Fairey released through Obey Giant in 2008, sharing the standard format and edition size of that period. It suits collectors assembling a broad survey of his late-2000s editions.
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.