Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Black Gold (Relief Print)”?
Artist Statement
3-color relief print on handmade paper, 40 ½ x 30 ½ inches, Edition of 25, Published by Pace Editions, Inc.
Summary
Black Gold is a 2015 Shepard Fairey relief print, published by Pace Editions (Pace Prints) on September 17, 2015. It is a 3-color relief print on handmade paper, measuring 40 1/2 x 30 1/2 inches, in an edition of 25. As a large-format, hand-printed relief work on handmade paper from a fine-art publisher, it sits apart from Fairey's higher-volume Obey Giant screen prints. The title evokes oil and the consumerist-power themes Fairey returns to throughout his work, rendered at scale in his bold, graphic visual language.
Why It Matters
Black Gold matters because it represents Fairey working in a fine-art print idiom rather than his usual self-published screen prints. Produced with Pace Editions, one of the most respected print publishers, as a 3-color relief print on handmade paper in an edition of just 25, it places Fairey in a fine-art-press context that signals ambition and craft beyond the street-poster tradition that made his name. The relief process and handmade paper give the work a tactile, labor-intensive quality distinct from the smooth screen-printed surfaces collectors usually associate with him. The title's allusion to oil ties it to Fairey's ongoing interrogation of consumption, power, and the systems that drive both. For collectors, the small edition size and prestigious publisher make this a notably scarcer and more substantial piece than the typical Obey Giant release, with the large 40 x 30 inch format giving it genuine presence. It belongs to a tightly linked group of Pace relief prints from the same day, which together form a cohesive, collectible suite rooted in Fairey's critique of power and commerce.
Collector Perspective
Black Gold targets serious collectors drawn to Fairey's fine-art print output rather than his mass-market screen prints. The Pace Editions imprint, handmade paper, relief technique, and small edition of 25 all appeal to buyers who prioritize scarcity, craft, and publisher prestige. At 40 1/2 x 30 1/2 inches it is a large statement piece that anchors a wall rather than joining a dense grid of smaller prints. It fits a collection built around Fairey's most substantial, gallery-oriented works and pairs naturally with the other Pace relief prints issued the same day. Collectors valuing process and material distinctiveness will appreciate the relief embossing and handmade stock, which set it apart from his more familiar screen-printed editions.
Historical Context
Black Gold dates to 2015 and reflects Fairey's collaboration with Pace Editions, a partnership that moved his work further into the fine-art print world. By the mid-2010s Fairey was balancing high-volume self-published Obey Giant screen prints with smaller, more exclusive editions made through established print ateliers. The relief printing process and handmade paper here represent a deliberate engagement with traditional printmaking craft, distinct from the silkscreen techniques rooted in his street-art origins. The print belongs to a suite of Pace relief works released the same day, marking a moment when Fairey organized fine-art output into cohesive, publisher-backed groupings exploring consumption and power.
FAQ
How was Black Gold printed?
It is a 3-color relief print on handmade paper, a technique distinct from Fairey's usual screen prints. Relief printing involves carving and inking a raised surface, and the handmade paper gives the work a tactile, fine-art quality consistent with its Pace Editions production.
What is the edition size?
Black Gold was issued in an edition of 25, published by Pace Editions, Inc. in 2015. This is a very small edition compared with Fairey's typical Obey Giant screen prints, making it a notably scarcer piece within his catalog.
How large is the print?
It measures 40 1/2 x 30 1/2 inches, a large format that gives the work strong presence on a wall. The substantial scale, combined with handmade paper and relief printing, distinguishes it from Fairey's more common smaller screen prints.
Who published Black Gold?
It was published by Pace Editions, Inc. (Pace Prints), a respected fine-art print publisher. This partnership places the work in a gallery-oriented context distinct from Fairey's self-published Obey Giant releases, and it belongs to a suite of Pace relief prints from September 2015.
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.