Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Spirit Of Independence”?
Artist Statement
Spirit of Independence. 18 x 24 inches. Screen print on cream Speckle Tone paper. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 400. $45.
Summary
Spirit of Independence is a 2017 Shepard Fairey screen print on cream Speckle Tone paper, 18 x 24 inches, signed and issued in a numbered edition of 400 by Obey Giant. The source provides limited descriptive detail beyond title, format, and edition. Rendered in Fairey's signature high-contrast graphic style, the print carried an original price of $45. With no extended artist statement in the record, the work is documented primarily by its physical and edition facts: a signed, numbered screen print in his standard 18 x 24 format from his prolific 2017 release year.
Why It Matters
Spirit of Independence is a 2017 signed, numbered screen print from Fairey's prolific output of that year, issued by Obey Giant in an edition of 400. Because the source record offers little beyond title, format, and edition, its significance is best stated cautiously: it appears to align with Fairey's broader themes of independence, autonomy, and resistance, ideas that recur throughout his catalog, though the record does not include an extended statement to confirm the specific intent. For collectors, the work fits within his deep run of standard studio editions from this period, which are valued for their consistent craftsmanship, signature, and accessible original pricing. The edition of 400 is typical for his releases of the era, and the 18 x 24 format makes it easy to display and group with companion 2017 prints. As one of many editions Fairey released that year, it functions as a connective piece within a period-focused collection rather than a documented landmark, and its title suggests thematic resonance with his independence and autonomy motifs without overstating a message the source does not fully spell out.
Collector Perspective
Spirit of Independence appeals to collectors assembling a broad or period-focused Fairey collection, particularly those gathering his 2017 studio editions. As a signed, numbered screen print in the standard 18 x 24 format, it frames and groups easily with companion prints from the same year. Its accessible original price point makes it an approachable acquisition, and the edition of 400 sits in the typical range for his releases of the era. Because the source provides limited interpretive detail, collectors may value it more as a connective, completist piece within a larger set than as a standalone statement work. It suits buyers prioritizing breadth, craftsmanship, and Fairey's signature over a specific documented narrative.
Historical Context
Spirit of Independence belongs to Fairey's prolific 2017 release year, issued through Obey Giant as a signed, numbered screen print in an edition of 400. The source record is sparse, so its placement is best described in general terms: it sits within his steady stream of standard studio editions from this period, produced on his familiar cream Speckle Tone paper in his consistent 18 x 24 format. Its title points toward the themes of independence and autonomy that recur across his work, though without an extended statement the specific context is not fully documented. Within his arc it represents the kind of regular signed edition that filled out his catalog during an especially active stretch of releases.
FAQ
What are the size, medium, and edition?
Spirit of Independence is a screen print on cream Speckle Tone paper measuring 18 x 24 inches, signed by Shepard Fairey and issued in a numbered edition of 400. It was published by Obey Giant in 2017 at an original price of $45.
What is the print about?
The source record provides limited descriptive detail beyond the title and physical facts. The title suggests themes of independence and autonomy that recur in Fairey's work, but no extended artist statement is included to confirm the specific intent.
How does it fit a Fairey collection?
It is one of many signed, numbered editions Fairey released in his prolific 2017 year. In its standard 18 x 24 format, it groups easily with companion prints from the same period and serves well as a connective piece in a broad or period-focused collection.
Who published it?
Spirit of Independence was published by Obey Giant, Fairey's own studio imprint, in 2017. It is a signed, numbered screen print, consistent with his standard studio-edition practice of that era.
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.