Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Imperial Glory (Large Format)”?
Artist Statement
Imperial Glory 2012 Silkscreen in six colors 56 5/8 x 42 5/8 inches Edition of 50
Summary
Imperial Glory is a 2012 large-format Shepard Fairey silkscreen produced in six colors, measuring 56 5/8 x 42 5/8 inches in an edition of 50. The title evokes themes of empire and power, rendered at a monumental scale in Fairey's bold, multi-color graphic style. As one of his largest screen-print formats, the work showcases his decorative-yet-critical visual language, layering six colors into an ornate composition. The substantial dimensions and small edition position it as a major statement piece within his 2012 output, executed through silkscreen rather than the relief technique used elsewhere in his concurrent large-format works.
Why It Matters
Imperial Glory stands out in Shepard Fairey's 2012 output for its sheer scale and technical ambition: a six-color silkscreen measuring over four and a half feet tall in an edition of only 50. The title's invocation of empire and imperial power aligns with Fairey's long-running critique of authority, militarism, and the aesthetics of domination, themes he frequently dresses in ornate, almost regal decorative patterning to expose the seductiveness of power. The monumental format makes it a centerpiece work rather than a collectible drop, and the six-color process reflects significant printmaking labor. With only 50 impressions, it is genuinely scarce. For collectors, large-format Fairey silkscreens are prized for their commanding presence and the way they translate his poster-derived sensibility into gallery-scale objects. The edition documents Fairey operating at the upper end of his screen-print capabilities in the early 2010s, producing works meant to hold a wall the way a painting would. Its critical framing of imperial power connects it to the propaganda-inspired core of his practice, where ornament and authority are deliberately entangled.
Collector Perspective
Imperial Glory appeals to collectors seeking a statement-scale Fairey silkscreen with commanding wall presence. At 56 5/8 x 42 5/8 inches in an edition of 50, it suits buyers who want a centerpiece rather than a modest framed print, and who value the labor of a six-color screen process. The large format makes it ideal for a gallery wall, loft, or a serious collection where it can anchor a room. The imperial-power theme fits a collection focused on Fairey's critique of authority and militarism. Its scarcity and scale set it apart from his standard editions, giving it gravitas for collectors building around his most ambitious print works.
Historical Context
Imperial Glory dates to 2012, a productive period in which Shepard Fairey was issuing both large-format silkscreens and relief works through publishers and his own studio. The six-color silkscreen process and over-four-foot scale reflect Fairey working at the ambitious end of his print practice. Thematically, the imperial-power framing continues his decades-long engagement with authority, militarism, and the visual codes of empire, often rendered in deliberately ornate patterning. By 2012 Fairey had moved well beyond his late-1980s street origins into producing gallery-scale editions, and Imperial Glory exemplifies that maturation, showing how he scaled his poster-derived graphic language into monumental, small-edition works aimed at serious collectors.
FAQ
How large is Imperial Glory?
It measures 56 5/8 x 42 5/8 inches, making it one of Fairey's larger silkscreen formats. The record describes it as a six-color silkscreen from 2012 in an edition of 50.
What is the medium?
Imperial Glory is a silkscreen printed in six colors, according to the source. This multi-color screen process reflects substantial printmaking labor at a monumental scale.
How large is the edition?
The edition is 50, per the record, making it a scarce large-format work compared with Fairey's standard editions that often number in the hundreds.
What is the theme of the work?
The title evokes empire and imperial power. The record classifies it under collaborations and pop culture, consistent with Fairey's recurring critique of authority and the aesthetics of power.
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.