What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “I See Static (Blue)”?

Artist Statement

I See Static Screen Print. 2 colorways available: Red, and Blue on Cream Speckle Tone Paper. 18 inches by 24 inches. Signed and numbered editions of 300. $45 each

Summary

I See Static (Blue) is a 2016 screen print published by Obey Giant, measuring 18 by 24 inches and printed on cream Speckle Tone paper. It was released in two colorways, Red and Blue, each a signed and numbered edition of 300. The Blue variant is the subject of this record. Tied to Fairey's collaborations-and-pop-culture output, the work uses his graphic print vocabulary on a textured cream stock. With a modest price point and a mid-size edition, it represents an accessible entry within the artist's catalog rather than a large-format or low-edition statement piece.

Why It Matters

I See Static (Blue) reflects the steady, accessible side of Shepard Fairey's print practice, where mid-size editions on textured stock keep his work within reach of newer collectors. Released in 2016 as one of two colorways alongside a Red version, the Blue edition of 300 is signed and numbered, giving it the collectible credentials of a Fairey original without the premium of a large-format or single-digit-run piece. Its connection to his collaborations-and-pop-culture stream situates it among the cultural and music-adjacent works that broaden his output beyond purely political imagery. For collectors, the existence of paired colorways adds a completist dimension: acquiring both the Blue and Red variants creates a natural set. The cream Speckle Tone paper is a recurring substrate in Fairey's screen prints of this period, lending a consistent material identity across releases. While the source gives limited interpretive detail about the image itself, the work's value lies in its role as an affordable, signed, mid-edition example that fits comfortably alongside other 2016 Obey Giant drops, making it a practical building block for a broader Fairey collection rather than a marquee acquisition.

Collector Perspective

This print suits entry-level and intermediate collectors who want a signed, numbered Fairey work at an accessible price and standard 18-by-24-inch size. The paired Blue and Red colorways appeal to completists who enjoy assembling matched sets, and the cream Speckle Tone stock ties it visually to other 2016 Obey Giant releases. Those building a collection around Fairey's collaborations-and-pop-culture material will find it a sensible addition. With an edition of 300 it is more available than his scarcer drops, so it reads as a dependable, display-friendly piece rather than a trophy. Its modest scale makes it easy to frame and group with other prints of the era.

Historical Context

I See Static (Blue) belongs to Fairey's mid-2010s screen-print output, issued through Obey Giant in 2016. It exemplifies the artist's practice of releasing works in multiple colorways and on consistent cream Speckle Tone stock, a recurring approach during this period. Positioned within his collaborations-and-pop-culture stream, it sits among the broader, culturally inflected releases that run parallel to his more overtly political work. The mid-size edition of 300 reflects the standard distribution model Fairey used for many of his regular drops in these years, keeping the work accessible while maintaining the signed-and-numbered collectibility that defines his catalog.

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Related Works

Jeff Ho Zephyr (Blue)2017 · Both are Blue-colorway collaboration prints in adjacent years, similar in format and stream.

Paradise Turns (Offset Poster)2016 · Same 2016 year within the collaborations-and-pop-culture output.

Church Of Consumption2017 · Close-in-time pop-culture-themed Obey release, complementary grouping.

Society Of Destruction2015 · Adjacent-year collaborations-and-pop-culture screen print of comparable scale.

Time To Move On2015 · Similar mid-size accessible Obey print from the same period.