Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Universal Personhood Set”?
Artist Statement
Set of three silkscreens 40 1/2 x 30 inches, each Edition of 50
Summary
Universal Personhood Set is a 2015 group of three silkscreens published by Pace Prints. Each print measures 40 1/2 x 30 inches and the set is an edition of 50. The large-scale format and the Pace Prints imprint mark it as a fine-art-oriented release. The source provides only essential production details without an artist statement, so the specific imagery is not described, though the title relates to Fairey's Universal Personhood theme, which recurs across multiple releases in his catalog from 2013 through 2018.
Why It Matters
Universal Personhood is a titled theme Fairey returned to repeatedly between 2013 and 2018, and this 2015 Pace Prints set is a notably ambitious expression of it: three large silkscreens, each 40 1/2 x 30 inches, in a tight edition of just 50. The combination of a respected fine-art print publisher in Pace Prints, the substantial scale, and the small edition positions this set toward the higher, more collectible end of Fairey's output rather than his routine Obey Giant releases. As a set, it offers collectors a coordinated, gallery-scale statement on the Universal Personhood theme. Because the source omits a statement, the precise imagery should be read cautiously, but the print's significance rests on its production pedigree and rarity. Within a Fairey collection, this set stands as a premium, large-format anchor that connects to the other Universal Personhood releases across his catalog, making it a meaningful node in tracing how he developed a single concept across years and formats.
Collector Perspective
This set targets serious collectors who prioritize large-scale, fine-art-edition Fairey works and the cachet of a Pace Prints publication. With an edition of only 50 and three prints each measuring 40 1/2 x 30 inches, it is a premium acquisition suited to substantial wall space and a gallery-style presentation. It anchors a collection focused on Fairey's Universal Personhood theme or his higher-end studio editions rather than his accessible street-poster releases. Buyers tracking the development of a single concept across his catalog will value how this set connects to the other Universal Personhood releases, while its scale and small edition support its standing as a centerpiece.
Historical Context
Universal Personhood Set extends a theme Fairey developed across several years, with related releases dated 2013 and 2018 in the same catalog. The 2015 Pace Prints edition reflects his collaborations with established fine-art print studios during this period, producing large-format, small-edition works that sit apart from his more affordable Obey Giant screen prints. Pace Prints' involvement and the 40 1/2 x 30 inch scale signal a deliberately elevated production. As a set of three in an edition of 50, it documents how Fairey pursued a recurring concept at a more ambitious register during the Modern Activism period of his career, building a multi-year throughline rather than a single isolated image.
FAQ
What is the Universal Personhood Set?
It is a 2015 set of three silkscreens published by Pace Prints. Each print measures 40 1/2 x 30 inches, and the set is an edition of 50. It relates to Shepard Fairey's recurring Universal Personhood theme, which appears in multiple releases across his catalog.
How large are the prints?
Each of the three silkscreens measures 40 1/2 x 30 inches, making this a large-format set. The substantial scale, combined with the Pace Prints imprint and the small edition of 50, marks it as a fine-art-oriented release rather than a standard poster.
What does the set depict?
The source provides only basic production details and no artist statement, so the specific imagery is not described here. The title connects it to Fairey's Universal Personhood theme, but the precise subject should be treated cautiously based on the available data.
How rare is this set?
The set is an edition of just 50, published by Pace Prints in 2015. Combined with its large 40 1/2 x 30 inch format and fine-art print pedigree, the small edition size places it toward the more collectible end of Fairey's output.
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.