Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Sedation Of Millions”?
Artist Statement
Edition of 450, 18x24in, signed and numbered by the artist. This print is inspired by the title of Shepard's favorite Public Enemy album “It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back” "I think the biggest problem in America is the indifference and complacency about important issues that results from much of the population being perpetually hypnotized by conspicuous consumption, social media, entertainment, and self-medication. Using sedation and escapism for relief from the rat race might make us less aware(blissfully ignorant) but also less empowered to improve our role within the rat race… a vicious cycle of cause and effect."
Summary
Sedation Of Millions is a 2012 print by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant and released March 13, 2012. It is an 18 x 24 inch first edition of 450, signed and numbered by the artist. Per the source, the print is inspired by the title of Fairey's favorite Public Enemy album, "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back." Fairey describes it as a critique of indifference and complacency in America, where much of the population is, in his words, perpetually hypnotized by consumption, social media, entertainment, and self-medication, a vicious cycle that leaves people less aware and less empowered.
Why It Matters
Sedation Of Millions is one of Fairey's pointed critiques of consumerism and cultural complacency, and the source gives it an unusually clear artist statement. He frames the work around what he calls the biggest problem in America: indifference and complacency born of being perpetually hypnotized by conspicuous consumption, social media, entertainment, and self-medication, a vicious cycle that leaves people less aware and less empowered. The print's inspiration in the title of Public Enemy's "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" ties it to a landmark of politically charged hip-hop, anchoring Fairey's message in a music lineage he admires. This blend of consumer critique, media commentary, and musical homage makes the work resonate beyond decoration, positioning it within his long-running interrogation of power and conformity. For collectors, the documented statement and Public Enemy reference give it strong narrative depth and a clear thematic anchor. At an edition of 450, it offered a small, signed format for an idea-driven release. The print exemplifies how Fairey channels propaganda-style graphics into pointed social commentary, using a music reference to sharpen a message about awareness, empowerment, and the costs of escapism in contemporary American life.
Collector Perspective
Sedation Of Millions appeals to collectors drawn to Fairey's social-critique and music-referencing work, especially those who appreciate the Public Enemy connection and his commentary on consumerism and complacency. The documented artist statement gives it strong narrative depth for a themed collection focused on power, media, and culture. At an edition of 450, it offers an accessible signed and numbered entry for a 2012 grouping. The 18 x 24 inch format displays well as a statement piece or beside other consumer-critique and music-linked prints. Buyers tend to value the Public Enemy inspiration, the artist statement, the signature, and condition, prizing the idea-driven backstory as much as the graphic itself.
Historical Context
Released in March 2012, Sedation Of Millions sits within Fairey's ongoing critique of consumerism and cultural complacency, a thread that runs throughout his propaganda-influenced output. Its inspiration in the title of Public Enemy's "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" links it to the politically charged hip-hop that shaped his sensibilities. The print belongs to the strand of his early-2010s catalog that pairs pop-culture and music references with pointed social commentary, distinct from his charity collaborations and event editions. Within his arc, it reinforces his identity as an artist who uses accessible graphic language to challenge passivity and conspicuous consumption, drawing on music he admires to frame a message about awareness and empowerment in contemporary American life.
FAQ
What inspired Sedation Of Millions?
Per the source, the print is inspired by the title of Shepard Fairey's favorite Public Enemy album, "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back." This ties the work to politically charged hip-hop that influenced his sensibilities.
What is the message of the print?
Fairey states the biggest problem in America is indifference and complacency from a population perpetually hypnotized by conspicuous consumption, social media, entertainment, and self-medication. He calls escapism a vicious cycle that leaves people less aware and less empowered.
What is the edition size and format?
Sedation Of Millions is a first edition of 450, measuring 18 x 24 inches, signed and numbered by the artist. It was published by Obey Giant and released on March 13, 2012.
How does it fit Fairey's broader work?
It belongs to his ongoing critique of consumerism and cultural complacency, pairing a music reference with pointed social commentary. The work channels his propaganda-style graphics into a message about awareness and empowerment in contemporary American life.
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.