Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Earth Crisis Letterpress”?
Artist Statement
42.5 x 34.9 cm. Signed and numbered edition of 450. 100% cotton archival paper with hand-deckled edges. OBEY publishing chop on bottom left corner.
Summary
Earth Crisis Letterpress is a 2016 letterpress edition by Shepard Fairey, published by Galerie Itinerrance. Signed and numbered in an edition of 450, it measures 42.5 x 34.9 cm and is printed on 100% cotton archival paper with hand-deckled edges, bearing the OBEY publishing chop in the bottom left corner. The source description focuses on its physical and production qualities rather than detailed imagery. As a letterpress work tied to Fairey's Earth Crisis environmental theme, it represents his ongoing engagement with climate and ecological concern in a fine-craft printed format.
Why It Matters
Earth Crisis Letterpress reflects Fairey's sustained environmental focus rendered in a high-craft letterpress format. Published by the Paris-based Galerie Itinerrance, the work emphasizes material quality: 100% cotton archival paper, hand-deckled edges, and the OBEY publishing chop, signaling a collectible fine-print release rather than a mass poster. The Earth Crisis title connects it to Fairey's broader environmental campaign and his recurring use of art to raise climate awareness. For collectors, the signed and numbered edition of 450 offers a moderately sized run in a tactile, archival medium prized for its hand-finished qualities. The source description is limited to production details rather than imagery, so interpretation here stays grounded in the medium, edition, and environmental theme. Within Fairey's catalog, the letterpress format distinguishes it from his screen prints, appealing to collectors who value craft and process, while its environmental message aligns it with a recognizable thread of his activist output during the mid-2010s.
Collector Perspective
Earth Crisis Letterpress appeals to collectors who value craft-focused printing, the tactile quality of letterpress, and Fairey's environmental theme. The 100% cotton archival paper, hand-deckled edges, and OBEY chop attract buyers who appreciate fine-print production and longevity. The signed and numbered edition of 450, published through Paris gallery Galerie Itinerrance, gives it international provenance interest. At roughly 42.5 by 34.9 cm it suits intimate display. It fits naturally into environmentally themed Fairey collections and pairs well with other letterpress works in the same release for collectors who favor the medium.
Historical Context
Earth Crisis Letterpress sits within Fairey's mid-2010s environmental output, carrying his Earth Crisis theme into a letterpress format. Published in 2016 by Galerie Itinerrance, the Paris gallery known for street-art programming, it reflects Fairey's international exhibition relationships during this period. The letterpress medium, with cotton archival paper, hand-deckled edges, and the OBEY publishing chop, represents his expansion beyond screen printing into craft-oriented editions. The Earth Crisis title connects to Fairey's long-running climate and ecological advocacy, a recurring strand of his activism. As one of a related group of letterpress works from this release, it documents his continued use of varied print media to advance environmental and social messaging.
FAQ
What is Earth Crisis Letterpress?
It is a 2016 letterpress edition by Shepard Fairey, published by Galerie Itinerrance. Tied to his Earth Crisis environmental theme, it is a signed and numbered fine-print release distinguished by its archival paper and hand-finished production rather than a mass-produced poster.
What are the edition and material details?
It is a signed and numbered edition of 450, measuring 42.5 by 34.9 cm. It is printed on 100% cotton archival paper with hand-deckled edges and bears the OBEY publishing chop in the bottom left corner.
Who published this print?
It was published by Galerie Itinerrance, a Paris gallery, reflecting Fairey's international exhibition and publishing relationships during the mid-2010s.
What makes the letterpress format notable?
Letterpress on 100% cotton archival paper with hand-deckled edges gives the work a tactile, hand-finished, collectible quality distinct from Fairey's screen prints, appealing to collectors who value craft and archival longevity.
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.