Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “No Future”?
Artist Statement
Set of 3 skateboard decks Limited Edition of 450 Each deck: 31in x 8in Limited edition Signed in the deck
Summary
No Future is a 2017 Shepard Fairey collaboration released as a set of three skateboard decks in a limited edition of 450, published by The Skateroom. Each deck measures 31 x 8 inches and is signed in the deck. As a functional-object edition rather than a paper print, the set translates Fairey's graphic imagery onto skate decks, connecting his work to skate culture and to The Skateroom's model of art editions. The source provides the format, edition size, and dimensions but limited descriptive detail. Original price was $450 for the set.
Why It Matters
No Future stands apart from Fairey's paper editions as a three-deck skateboard set produced with The Skateroom, an outfit known for issuing artist editions on skate decks. The format ties directly to Fairey's own skateboarding roots and to his long engagement with skate culture, turning his graphic imagery into collectible functional objects. For collectors, art skate decks occupy a distinct and active niche, valued both as display objects and as artifacts of the crossover between fine art, street culture, and skateboarding. Issued in a limited edition of 450 and signed in the deck, this set offers a different kind of ownership than a framed print, and the three-deck configuration makes it a more substantial, sculptural display piece. Because the source provides limited interpretive detail, its message is best described cautiously, though the No Future title resonates with the punk lineage and future-themed motifs that recur across Fairey's work. As a Skateroom collaboration, it appeals to collectors bridging Fairey's fine-art catalog with skate-culture and design collecting, and it provides a format-distinct anchor within a broader collection.
Collector Perspective
No Future appeals to collectors who value art skate decks and crossover objects bridging fine art and skate culture, as well as Fairey enthusiasts seeking formats beyond paper prints. The three-deck set is a substantial display piece, working well mounted as a triptych and offering sculptural presence a framed print cannot. The Skateroom collaboration and limited edition of 450 add provenance and appeal for those who follow artist-deck releases. At 31 x 8 inches each, the decks suit dedicated wall mounts and pair naturally with other skate-culture works. It suits collectors building a collaboration or skate-focused subset of Fairey's catalog and those who appreciate functional-object editions as much as traditional prints.
Historical Context
No Future was released in 2017 through The Skateroom, a publisher known for producing artist editions on skateboard decks, placing it within Fairey's collaboration output rather than his solo print series. The skate-deck format connects directly to his skateboarding roots, which have informed his aesthetic since his earliest work. Issued as a limited edition of 450 three-deck sets, signed in the deck, it reflects his ongoing practice of extending his imagery into functional and collectible objects. The source offers limited interpretive detail, so its specific message is best stated cautiously, but within his arc it represents the kind of culture-crossing collaboration that links his fine-art practice to street and skate culture.
FAQ
What format is No Future?
No Future is a set of three skateboard decks rather than a paper print. Each deck measures 31 x 8 inches and is signed in the deck. It was published by The Skateroom in 2017, a publisher known for producing artist editions on skate decks.
What is the edition size?
The release is a limited edition of 450 three-deck sets. It was published by The Skateroom and signed in the deck. The original price for the set was $450.
Why is it on skateboard decks?
The skate-deck format ties directly to Fairey's skateboarding roots, which have shaped his aesthetic since his earliest work. The collaboration with The Skateroom turns his graphic imagery into collectible functional objects, bridging his fine-art catalog with skate culture.
How should the decks be displayed?
As a three-deck set, they work well mounted together as a triptych, giving a sculptural wall presence that a framed print cannot. Each deck is 31 x 8 inches, suited to dedicated deck wall mounts, and the set serves as a format-distinct anchor in a collection.
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.