Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Obey Megaphone”?
Artist Statement
I’m producing this Obey Megaphone poster primarily to use in outdoor installations, but I decided to release a smaller signed edition after receiving several requests when the image was first seen in my NYC “May Day” mural. Free speech needs to be celebrated and exercised as a cornerstone of true participation in democracy. I think using your voice goes hand in hand with casting your vote. People with the courage to express a view that was unpopular have encouraged others to speak their minds and turned political tides. Don’t underestimate your power to make a difference. Edition of 230. -Shepard For release on 8/13/2010 at a random time. Limit 1 per person/household. 18 x 24? Screen Print
Summary
Obey Megaphone is a 2010 screen print by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant in an edition of 230 at 18 x 24 inches, released August 13, 2010 at $45, with a limit of one per household. Per Fairey's statement, the image was produced primarily for outdoor installations and was first seen in his NYC 'May Day' mural; he released a smaller signed edition after receiving requests. The work celebrates free speech as a cornerstone of democratic participation, linking using one's voice to casting one's vote. The megaphone motif appears in Fairey's bold OBEY-derived graphic style.
Why It Matters
Obey Megaphone distills Fairey's democracy-and-voice message into a single emblematic motif, with a statement that explicitly ties exercising free speech to casting a vote as twin cornerstones of participation. That clear civic thesis makes it a strong record for collectors of his democracy-and-voting work. The print's origin adds interest: per the source, the image was created mainly for outdoor installations and debuted in his New York 'May Day' mural before Fairey issued a signed edition in response to collector requests, giving it a documented street-to-print trajectory characteristic of his practice. With an edition of just 230, it is notably tighter than the 400 to 450 runs common to many of his 2010 releases, which heightens its appeal for collectors attentive to relative scarcity. Fairey's encouragement, 'don't underestimate your power to make a difference,' frames the megaphone as a call to civic courage. At $45 with a one-per-household limit, it was accessible at issue. For collectors and researchers, the smaller edition size, the 'May Day' mural origin, and the explicit free-speech-and-voting message are the strongest, fully sourced differentiators.
Collector Perspective
This print appeals to collectors focused on Fairey's democracy, free-speech, and activism themes, as well as those who value works with a documented street-installation origin. The relatively small edition of 230 is a draw for collectors attentive to scarcity within his 2010 output, where larger runs are common. At 18 x 24 inches the bold megaphone motif displays as a punchy graphic statement and pairs with Fairey's power and propaganda-styled works. Buyers building a civic-engagement or activism-themed Fairey collection will see it as a focused emblem of his free-speech message. With the one-per-household limit at release, distribution was controlled, so collectors weigh condition, signature, and the comparatively tight edition.
Historical Context
Obey Megaphone emerged from Fairey's NYC 'May Day' exhibition and mural context in 2010, where the image first appeared before being released as a signed edition. Its primary purpose for outdoor installation reflects Fairey's enduring commitment to public, street-based art that predates his gallery success. The free-speech-and-voting message situates it within his ongoing democracy and civic-participation themes, which he had foregrounded notably around the 2008 election cycle and continued thereafter. Within his arc, the megaphone is an emblematic motif extending his propaganda-inspired visual language into a positive civic call, and the smaller edition of 230 marks it as a more limited release among his 2010 prints.
FAQ
What is the message of Obey Megaphone?
Per Fairey's statement, the print celebrates free speech as a cornerstone of true participation in democracy. He links using one's voice to casting one's vote and encourages people not to underestimate their power to make a difference, noting how courageous unpopular views have turned political tides.
Where did the image first appear?
Fairey states the image was first seen in his NYC 'May Day' mural and was produced primarily for outdoor installations. He decided to release a smaller signed edition after receiving several requests for it.
What were the edition details?
The source lists a screen print edition of 230, measuring 18 x 24 inches, published by Obey Giant, released August 13, 2010 at $45, with a limit of one per person or household.
How does this edition compare in size to other 2010 prints?
At 230, the edition is smaller than the runs of 400 to 450 common to many of Fairey's 2010 releases, making it a comparatively limited release within that year's output.
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.