Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Scales Of Injustice (First Edition)”?
Artist Statement
10 inches by 13 inches letterpress print on 100% cotton archival paper with hand-deckled edges. Signed by Shepard Fairey and Cleon Peterson. Numbered edition of 300. Black ink on cream paper. Subliminal Projects publishing chop in lower left corner.
Summary
Scales Of Injustice is a 2016 letterpress print created by Shepard Fairey in collaboration with Cleon Peterson, published by Subliminal Projects in a numbered first edition of 300. It measures 10 by 13 inches, printed in black ink on cream 100% cotton archival paper with hand-deckled edges, and is signed by both artists. The Subliminal Projects publishing chop appears in the lower left corner. The title inverts the familiar 'scales of justice,' framing a pointed civil-rights critique through the combined graphic languages of Fairey and Peterson's stark, high-contrast figuration.
Why It Matters
Scales Of Injustice is notable as a collaboration between Shepard Fairey and Cleon Peterson, two artists whose styles converge on themes of power, violence, and social inequity. The title's inversion of the 'scales of justice' makes the critique explicit: rather than balanced fairness, the work points to systemic injustice, aligning with both artists' interest in conflict and authority. Published by Subliminal Projects, Fairey's own gallery, in a smaller numbered edition of 300, it carries the added significance of dual authorship, with signatures from both Fairey and Peterson. The black-ink-on-cream letterpress format gives it a stark, graphic gravity suited to its subject. For collectors, the collaboration adds crossover appeal, attracting followers of both artists, while the tighter edition size makes it relatively scarcer than the 450-count Galerie Itinerrance letterpress releases. The hand-deckled cotton paper and Subliminal Projects chop establish provenance and craft. Scales Of Injustice represents Fairey's ongoing practice of collaborative, cause-driven editions that pair his iconography with another artist's voice to sharpen a civil-rights message, making it a distinctive and meaningful piece within his catalog of justice-oriented work.
Collector Perspective
Scales Of Injustice appeals to collectors of both Shepard Fairey and Cleon Peterson, making it a strong crossover piece. Its numbered edition of 300, smaller than the companion Galerie Itinerrance letterpress releases, gives it relative scarcity, while dual signatures from both artists add provenance and desirability. The 10 by 13 inch format frames easily and suits intimate display, with its stark black-on-cream letterpress delivering bold graphic impact. It fits naturally into civil-rights and justice-themed collections alongside Respect And Justice and Peace & Justice Summit. Collectors drawn to artist collaborations, Subliminal Projects releases, or message-driven editions will find it especially compelling, as it combines two distinctive visual voices around a shared social critique.
Historical Context
Scales Of Injustice reflects Fairey's continued use of collaboration as a creative strategy, pairing his work with Cleon Peterson, an artist known for stark depictions of conflict and power. Published by Subliminal Projects, Fairey's Los Angeles gallery, in 2016, the print sits within his mid-2010s practice of issuing frequent cause-driven editions, here in a smaller numbered run of 300. The civil-rights and justice theme aligns with a central, recurring concern across Fairey's catalog, while the dual-artist format extends his long history of collaborations with musicians, designers, and fellow visual artists. The black-ink-on-cream letterpress treatment ties the work to craft-printmaking traditions distinct from his screen prints. By 2016 Fairey balanced gallery exhibitions, public murals, and collaborative releases, and Scales Of Injustice exemplifies how he used partnerships to amplify shared social messages within his maturing studio practice.
FAQ
Who created Scales Of Injustice?
It is a collaboration between Shepard Fairey and Cleon Peterson, signed by both artists. Published by Subliminal Projects in 2016, it pairs Fairey's iconography with Peterson's stark, high-contrast figuration around a shared civil-rights critique.
What is the edition size?
Scales Of Injustice is a numbered edition of 300, smaller than the companion 450-count Galerie Itinerrance letterpress releases. The Subliminal Projects publishing chop appears in the lower left corner as a mark of authenticity.
What are the dimensions and materials?
The print measures 10 by 13 inches and is produced as a letterpress in black ink on cream 100% cotton archival paper with hand-deckled edges, giving it a stark, tactile graphic quality.
What does the title mean?
The title inverts the familiar 'scales of justice,' pointing instead to systemic injustice. It reflects both artists' shared interest in power and inequity, framing a civil-rights critique through their combined visual languages.
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.