Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Obey Dove (Dove Target) (Large Format Red)”?
Artist Statement
Dove Target Red 2012 from the Target Series Three-color relief on handmade paper 35 x 25 1/2 inches Edition of 35 Published by Pace Editions, Inc.
Summary
Obey Dove (Dove Target), Red variant, is a 2012 large-format relief by Shepard Fairey from the Target Series, published by Pace Editions in an edition of 35. It is a three-color relief on handmade paper measuring 35 x 25 1/2 inches. The work places Fairey's peace dove inside his target motif, joining a universal symbol of peace with the loaded crosshairs of his target imagery. Issued in multiple colorways including this red version, it forms part of the series' systematic exploration of a single icon, executed in hand-pulled relief on premium paper through a major fine-art print publisher.
Why It Matters
Obey Dove fuses two of Shepard Fairey's most potent symbols: the peace dove and the target. Setting a dove, the universal emblem of peace, within crosshairs creates a deliberate tension between aspiration and threat, hope and surveillance, that runs to the heart of Fairey's politics. The record's secondary theme of consumerism and power reinforces that the target here is not neutral decoration but a charged signifier. As part of the Pace Editions Target Series, the work carries fine-art credibility, hand-pulled three-color relief on handmade paper in an edition of just 35, far scarcer than his Obey Giant screen prints. The existence of multiple colorways, this red version among them, reflects Fairey's systematic approach to a single image, rewarding collectors who build complete variant sets. The dove is one of Fairey's enduring motifs, tying this work to his broader peace-and-justice imagery. For collectors, the combination of a resonant symbol, premium materials, small edition, large scale, and a respected publisher makes Obey Dove a meaningful node in his catalog, documenting how he weds peace iconography to his critical graphic vocabulary.
Collector Perspective
Obey Dove appeals to collectors drawn to Fairey's peace iconography and to those completing the Target Series. The dove motif gives it strong thematic resonance for buyers building around his peace-and-justice imagery, while the Pace Editions imprint and edition of 35 satisfy scarcity-minded collectors. At 35 x 25 1/2 inches on handmade paper, it is a refined, sizeable wall piece. The multiple colorways make it especially attractive for variant collectors who want the red, black, and other versions displayed together. The hand-pulled relief technique adds tactile, fine-art appeal beyond standard screen prints, and the dove-in-target image is a memorable centerpiece for a Fairey-focused collection.
Historical Context
Obey Dove was produced in 2012 within Shepard Fairey's Target Series for Pace Editions. The peace dove had long been a recurring motif in Fairey's work, and pairing it with the target motif reflects his habit of layering hopeful and critical symbols. Executed as three-color relief on handmade paper, the work belongs to the phase in which Fairey moved toward formal fine-art printmaking with an established publisher rather than self-published editions. The record documents several colorways including this red version, showing the series' systematic exploration of one icon across palettes. Within Fairey's arc, the dove-and-target image distills his ongoing fusion of peace iconography with the surveillance-and-power connotations of his graphic language.
FAQ
What does Obey Dove depict?
It places Fairey's peace dove inside his target motif, combining a symbol of peace with the crosshairs of his target imagery. The record lists a secondary theme of consumerism and power, underscoring the loaded reading of the target.
What colorways exist?
According to the record, the image was issued in multiple variants including Black/Red, Large Format Black, Large Format Red, and Red/Black. This entry is the large-format red version.
What is the medium, size, and edition?
It is a three-color relief on handmade paper measuring 35 x 25 1/2 inches in an edition of 35, as stated in the source, produced through a hand-pulled relief process.
Who published it?
Obey Dove was published by Pace Editions, Inc., an established fine-art print publisher, distinguishing it from Fairey's self-released Obey Giant editions.
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.