Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Natural Springs (First Edition)”?
Artist Statement
NATURAL SPRINGS by Shepard Fairey 18 x 24 inch screen print on cream speckle tone paper. Signed and numbered edition of 450. $45
Summary
"Natural Springs (First Edition)" is a 2015 Shepard Fairey screen print published by Obey Giant. It measures 18 x 24 inches on cream speckle tone paper and is a signed and numbered first edition of 450, released at $45. The source description is brief, listing primarily the medium, dimensions, paper, edition, and price. Its themes touch on Fairey's pop-culture work and on nature and floral symbolism, suggesting decorative or nature-derived imagery, though the record provides limited descriptive detail about the specific design. It stands as a representative, affordable signed edition within Fairey's 2015 Obey Giant output.
Why It Matters
"Natural Springs" is a representative 2015 Obey Giant studio edition whose significance rests on its place in Fairey's steady release cadence rather than a documented backstory, since the source description is minimal. What the record supports is a clean set of facts: an 18 x 24 inch screen print on cream speckle tone paper, signed and numbered in an edition of 450, released at $45. The secondary theme of nature and floral symbolism points to decorative or organically derived imagery consistent with a recurring strand in Fairey's catalog, but the source does not elaborate on the specific composition. For a database, the honest value of this entry is as a chronological anchor and an affordable, accessible signed Fairey, useful for collectors completing a 2015 run. Its modest edition size and entry price made it approachable at release. Because descriptive detail is limited, claims here stay cautious: this is a solid, mid-tier studio edition whose appeal lies in Fairey's consistent graphic voice and the security of a signed, numbered print, not in a singular narrative or marquee status.
Collector Perspective
This print suits collectors seeking an affordable, signed, numbered Fairey to round out a 2015 grouping or a nature-and-floral-themed wall. Its likely decorative or organic imagery, suggested by the nature and floral symbolism theme, can give it broad display appeal that works in lighter, less overtly political settings. At 18 x 24 inches on cream speckle tone paper it frames conventionally and pairs well with other same-format Obey Giant editions. The edition of 450 and $45 original price make it an entry-level acquisition. It fits a collection organized chronologically by Fairey's 2015 releases or thematically around his nature-derived work, serving as a steady, accessible piece rather than a centerpiece.
Historical Context
"Natural Springs" belongs to Fairey's 2015 stream of signed screen-print editions issued through Obey Giant, the same prolific studio practice that produced many of that year's releases. By 2015 Fairey was a mature artist whose output ranged from large murals and pointed political portraits to a continuous supply of affordable collector editions, and this print represents the latter category. Its nature and floral symbolism leaning aligns with a recurring decorative strand in his work that runs alongside his more confrontational political pieces. With limited descriptive information in the source, its historical role is best understood as one entry in the regular rhythm of his mid-2010s editions rather than a landmark, documenting the breadth and consistency of his Obey Giant releases during the period.
FAQ
What are the size and medium of this print?
"Natural Springs" is an 18 x 24 inch screen print on cream speckle tone paper. It was published by Obey Giant in 2015. The source description is brief and focuses on these production details rather than describing the specific imagery of the composition.
How large is the edition?
It is a first edition limited to 450 prints, each signed and numbered by Shepard Fairey. The edition size of 450 is consistent with many of Fairey's mid-sized signed studio releases from 2015.
What was the original price?
The print was released at an original price of $45 through Obey Giant, with a release date of August 4, 2015. That made it an accessible signed and numbered edition at the time. The source does not establish a current market value.
What themes does this print relate to?
The record associates it with Fairey's pop-culture work and with nature and floral symbolism, suggesting decorative or organically derived imagery. However, the source description provides limited detail about the specific design, so interpretation of its imagery should remain cautious.
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.