What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Parlor Pattern Set (Cream)”?

Artist Statement

18 x 24? Signed and Numbered Edition of 85, $90 a set Release date 3/25/2010

Summary

Parlor Pattern Set (Cream) is an 18 x 24 inch screen print set published by Obey Giant in 2010, a signed and numbered edition of 85 released March 25, 2010 at $90 per set. The Cream variant is one of three configurations (Cream, Inverse Cream, and Red/Black). The work belongs to Fairey's decorative pattern output, presenting ornamental, symmetrical motifs in a soft cream palette. Offered as a coordinated set rather than a single sheet, it emphasizes repetition, layered surface, and the wallpaper-like decorative vocabulary recurring across his pattern works. It foregrounds design and rhythm over figurative subject or overt message.

Why It Matters

Parlor Pattern Set (Cream) showcases Fairey's decorative side packaged as a coordinated multi-print set, a format that rewards collectors looking for a unified installation rather than a single image. The set draws on the ornamental, Art Nouveau and Arabesque influenced patterning that underlies much of Fairey's work, here presented for its own sake in a muted cream palette suited to interior display. With an edition of only 85, it is one of the smaller editions in this group, giving it relative scarcity among his 2010 releases. The availability of three configurations, Cream, Inverse Cream, and Red/Black, gives variant collectors multiple targets and the chance to assemble a complete spectrum. As a set, it functions as a decorative ensemble that can anchor a room while staying quieter than Fairey's confrontational political work. It connects to a broader family of pattern works such as the Venice Pattern Set and Ornate Pattern, helping collectors trace how Fairey develops decorative motifs across releases. For a collection focused on the artist's design craft and ornamental vocabulary, this set is a substantive, cohesive addition.

Collector Perspective

This set suits collectors who favor Fairey's decorative and pattern work over his political imagery, and who value coordinated multi-print ensembles for interior display. The soft cream palette makes it easy to integrate into a wide range of decor, and presented as a set it can fill a wall as a unified installation. The small edition of 85 appeals to collectors seeking relative scarcity, while the three available configurations give variant-focused buyers additional goals. It pairs naturally with other pattern works such as Ornate Pattern and the Venice Pattern Set to build out a decorative sub-collection. At 18 x 24 inches per sheet, it is a versatile, frame-ready ensemble within Fairey's ornamental output.

Historical Context

Released March 25, 2010, Parlor Pattern Set (Cream) belongs to Fairey's prolific 2009 to 2010 stretch of decorative pattern prints issued alongside his music and portrait collaborations. His pattern works derive from Art Nouveau, Arabesque, and propaganda-poster framing, the same decorative scaffolding that frames figures in his political pieces. This set sits within a cluster of related pattern releases, including the 2009 Venice Pattern Set and the 2010 Ornate Pattern, that treat symmetry and repetition as primary subjects. Within Fairey's arc it represents the ornamental, design-driven foundation beneath his more message-heavy output, demonstrating his sustained interest in surface, rhythm, and decorative craft.

FAQ

Related Works

Ornate Pattern (Black)2010 · Companion 2010 pattern print sharing the same ornamental, symmetrical decorative vocabulary.

Venice Pattern Set2009 · Earlier pattern set from 2009 in the same decorative-set format and series.

May Day Flag2010 · Same 2010 release window from Obey Giant within the pop-culture grouping.

Basquiat Canvas Print2010 · Concurrent 2010 Obey Giant release in the same catalog period.

Drop In The Bucket2011 · Adjacent-period Obey Giant print from the same collaborations grouping.