Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Pedestal”?
Artist Statement
18 x 24 inch screen print. Signed and numbered edition of 450. $45. Limit 1 per person/household. Release date: Thursday, August 8, 2013
Summary
Pedestal is a 2013 Obey Giant screen print, 18 x 24 inches, signed and numbered in a first edition of 450. The source provides only the production facts: medium, dimensions, edition size, original price of $45, a limit of one per person, and a release date of August 8, 2013. No descriptive text about the imagery or subject is included in the record, so the print's specific visual concept and message are not detailed in the source. It is presented as a standard signed and numbered Fairey screen print released through Obey Giant in mid-2013.
Why It Matters
Pedestal is part of Fairey's steady 2013 output of signed and numbered screen prints released through Obey Giant. Because the source provides no descriptive text about the imagery or theme, its significance must be stated cautiously: it is a documented limited edition from a prolific period of Fairey's catalog rather than a print with a verified standalone narrative in this record. Its title may suggest commentary on power, status, or how figures are elevated, a recurring concern in Fairey's work, but the source does not confirm any such reading, so that remains speculative. For collectors, the value lies in its place within the chronological run of Fairey's mid-2013 editions and in its moderate edition size of 450. The one-per-person purchase limit noted in the source indicates a managed release typical of Obey Giant drops. Without further source detail, the print is best understood as a collectible component of Fairey's broader catalog rather than a marquee statement piece, and any thematic interpretation should be treated with caution.
Collector Perspective
Pedestal will mainly interest completist Fairey collectors building a chronological run of his Obey Giant editions, and buyers who connect with the image itself when viewed in person. As a signed and numbered edition of 450 at an accessible original price, it sits in the approachable tier of his catalog. The one-per-person purchase limit noted in the source reflects a controlled release. Because the record lacks descriptive detail, prospective buyers should evaluate the actual artwork directly rather than relying on a documented backstory. It fits a collection organized by period or by Fairey's standard screen-print editions rather than around a specific verified theme.
Historical Context
Pedestal was released in August 2013 as part of Fairey's continuous stream of Obey Giant screen-print editions during a highly productive stretch of his mid-career. The source situates it only by date, medium, and edition size, without thematic context, so its precise place within his arc cannot be detailed beyond chronology. It belongs to the same 2013 wave of signed, numbered drops that included his music and collaboration prints. As such it documents the cadence of Fairey's print program in this period, even though the record does not specify how its subject relates to his broader political or cultural concerns.
FAQ
What is Pedestal?
It is a 2013 Shepard Fairey screen print, 18 x 24 inches, published by Obey Giant as a signed and numbered first edition of 450. The source provides production details but no description of the imagery, so its specific subject is not documented in this record.
What are the edition and price details?
According to the source, Pedestal is a signed and numbered edition of 450, measuring 18 x 24 inches, with an original price of $45 and a limit of one per person. It was released on August 8, 2013 through Obey Giant.
What is the print about?
The source record does not include a description of the artwork or its message, so its specific theme cannot be confirmed here. The title may suggest themes of status or power that recur in Fairey's work, but this is not stated in the source and should be verified by viewing the image.
Who should consider this print?
It mainly suits completist collectors assembling a chronological run of Fairey's Obey Giant editions, or buyers drawn to the image itself. As an accessible signed and numbered edition of 450, it fits a period-based collection rather than one organized around a specific documented theme.
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.