Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Venice Pattern Set”?
Artist Statement
3 Prints to a Set, Edition of 100, 18 x 18 inches, Signed and Numbered, $90 On Sale 12/1
Summary
Venice Pattern Set is a 2009 Shepard Fairey release published by Obey Giant, on sale December 1, 2009. It comprises three signed and numbered screen prints to a set, each measuring 18 by 18 inches, in a first edition of 100, priced at $90 for the set. The work belongs to Fairey's pattern-print tradition, emphasizing decorative, repeating motifs. With only 100 sets produced, it is the most limited release in this batch. The source confirms the set composition, edition, dimensions, medium, and price.
Why It Matters
Venice Pattern Set is the scarcest release in this batch, with a first edition of just 100 sets, each containing three signed and numbered 18-by-18-inch screen prints. That small edition size meaningfully distinguishes it from Fairey's typical 450-edition releases and gives it genuine relative scarcity within his catalog. As a pattern set, it belongs to Fairey's decorative, ornamental strand, where repeating motifs and design-forward composition take precedence over overt messaging, a thread that runs throughout his work alongside the political pieces. The three-print set format makes it a collectible unit rather than a single image, appealing to buyers who value coordinated groupings. At $90 for three signed prints, it offered strong value at release relative to single editions. For collectors, the combination of a low edition of 100, the multi-print set structure, and Fairey's recognizable pattern aesthetic makes this a more distinctive acquisition than a standard solo edition. Its importance rests on that scarcity and on its place within his ongoing pattern-print series.
Collector Perspective
Venice Pattern Set appeals to collectors who prize Fairey's decorative pattern work and to those who value scarcity, given the low first edition of 100 sets. The three-print set format makes it ideal for buyers who want a coordinated grouping to display together, and the square 18-by-18-inch format suits gridded or symmetrical wall arrangements. As signed-and-numbered prints, each component carries individual collectible value within the set. It fits naturally alongside Fairey's other pattern prints for collectors building a decorative subset of his catalog. At an original $90 for three prints, it represented accessible per-print value, and its limited edition gives it standout appeal within the 2009 releases.
Historical Context
Venice Pattern Set, on sale December 1, 2009, belongs to Fairey's ongoing pattern-print practice, in which he applied his graphic, ornamental sensibility to repeating decorative motifs distinct from his portrait and political work. Releasing it as a three-print set in a tight edition of 100 reflects how Fairey periodically issued smaller, more design-focused collectible groupings. It closes out his prolific 2009 Obey Giant run and connects backward to earlier pattern works and forward to later ones in the same vein. Its low edition size sets it apart from the larger 450-edition releases that dominated his output that year.
FAQ
How many prints are in the Venice Pattern Set?
The set contains three prints, each measuring 18 by 18 inches. Per the source, it was issued as a single set in a first edition of 100, signed and numbered, and offered as a coordinated three-print collectible unit rather than as individual images.
Why is this release relatively scarce?
With a first edition of only 100 sets, it is far more limited than Fairey's typical 450-edition releases. That small edition size gives Venice Pattern Set genuine relative scarcity within his 2009 output, making it the most limited release in this group.
What was the original price?
The recorded release price was $90 for the full three-print set, on sale December 1, 2009. That worked out to accessible per-print value for three signed-and-numbered works. Current market value is not part of this record.
What style does the set represent?
It belongs to Fairey's pattern-print tradition, emphasizing decorative, repeating ornamental motifs rather than portraiture or political messaging. This places it within the design-forward, mandala-like strand of his catalog that complements his more activist imagery.
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.