Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Know Your Rights (Large Format)”?
Artist Statement
42 x 42 Large Format Serigraph. Signed and Numbered Edition of 50. 1 Color printed on Varnished 100% Cotton Rag Archival Paper. $600. Ships rolled with Certificate of Authenticity. Release Date: Thursday August 21, 2014
Summary
Know Your Rights (Large Format) is a 2014 Shepard Fairey large-format serigraph published by Obey Giant. As described in the source, it measures 42 x 42 inches, is a one-color print on varnished 100% cotton rag archival paper, and is signed and numbered in an edition of 50. It was released on August 21, 2014, at $600, ships rolled, and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. The source assigns it a primary theme of civil rights and justice, indicated by the title's emphasis on rights, making it a substantial statement piece centered on awareness of one's legal protections.
Why It Matters
Know Your Rights stands out within this batch as a large-format work tied explicitly to civil rights and justice, per the source's primary theme and the title's focus on rights. At 42 x 42 inches in a tight edition of just 50, signed and numbered with a Certificate of Authenticity, it is a flagship-scale piece rather than an accessible release, which raises its collector profile. The one-color treatment on varnished cotton rag archival paper, as stated in the source, gives it a bold, graphic presence suited to a strong message work. Fairey's catalog is deeply associated with social-justice themes, and a print built around knowing one's rights connects to that activist lineage, making it resonant for collectors who prioritize his political voice. The small edition size, large dimensions, archival materials, and included COA together make it a well-documented and physically commanding object. Compared to the many $45 screen prints of the same year, this is a higher-tier work where scarcity, scale, and theme reinforce one another, giving it stronger significance for collectors building around Fairey's justice-oriented output.
Collector Perspective
This appeals to collectors who prioritize Fairey's civil-rights and justice messaging and who want a large, statement-scale work. At 42 x 42 inches it commands a wall and anchors a room, and the one-color graphic treatment delivers high visual impact. The small edition of 50, archival cotton rag paper, and included Certificate of Authenticity give it strong provenance and the feel of a flagship piece. It fits collections organized around Fairey's social-justice and rights-themed work or around his large-format serigraphs. Collectors drawn to scarcity and to message-driven Fairey will value the combination of limited edition, substantial size, and a clear civil-rights subject documented in the source.
Historical Context
Released on August 21, 2014, through Obey Giant, this large-format serigraph sits within Fairey's long engagement with civil rights and justice themes. While the source ties it to that subject through its title and primary theme, the awareness of legal rights it addresses connects to Fairey's broader activist concerns. Its 42 x 42 inch one-color format and edition of 50 reflect his practice of issuing limited large-format works alongside accessible prints. Within his arc, 2014 saw both affordable releases and flagship-scale pieces, and this print represents the upper, message-driven tier of that year's output, reinforcing his identity as an artist who pairs graphic power with social commentary.
FAQ
What are the size and edition of Know Your Rights (Large Format)?
According to the source, it is a 42 x 42 inch large-format serigraph, one color printed on varnished 100% cotton rag archival paper, signed and numbered in an edition of 50. It was released on August 21, 2014, at $600 and ships rolled.
Does it come with authentication?
Yes. The source states the print ships with a Certificate of Authenticity. Combined with the signed and numbered edition of 50, this gives collectors clear documentation of the work's authenticity and edition position.
What is the theme of this print?
The source assigns a primary theme of civil rights and justice, reflected in the title's emphasis on knowing your rights. This connects the work to Fairey's broader body of social-justice and activist imagery.
How is the print produced?
The source describes it as a one-color large-format serigraph on varnished 100% cotton rag archival paper. The single-color treatment and archival materials give it a bold graphic presence and durable, collectible quality at a substantial 42 x 42 inch scale.
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.