Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Decoding Disinformation (Letterpress)”?
Artist Statement
Decoding Disinformation. 10 x 13 inches. Letterpress on white cotton paper with hand-deckled edges. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 450. $65.
Summary
Decoding Disinformation (Letterpress) is a 2017 letterpress print published by Obey Giant, measuring 10 x 13 inches on white cotton paper with hand-deckled edges. The source lists this as the Black variant among several colorways, in a numbered edition of 450 signed by Shepard Fairey. The print's title and imagery engage Fairey's recurring critique of misinformation and media manipulation, executed in the tactile letterpress medium. Released July 25, 2017 at an original price of $65, it is one of Fairey's smaller-format, more accessible editions.
Why It Matters
Decoding Disinformation speaks directly to one of Fairey's most timely and persistent themes: the manipulation of truth and the spread of misinformation. Released in 2017, a period of intense public debate over media and disinformation, the print captures Fairey's role as a visual commentator on the information landscape. The choice of letterpress is meaningful: the technique produces a tactile, debossed impression on hand-deckled cotton paper that gives the modestly sized work a crafted, fine-art quality distinct from his screen prints. Issued in multiple colorways including this Black variant, the image offers variant-collecting options within an accessible price tier. At 10 x 13 inches, an edition of 450, and an original price of $65, it is among the most attainable entry points into Fairey's catalog, well suited to newer collectors. Yet its sharp thematic focus on disinformation gives it relevance beyond its modest scale. For collectors building around Fairey's media-critique and propaganda themes, or those who appreciate his letterpress works, this print delivers strong conceptual resonance and craftsmanship at an approachable level, making it a versatile addition to a thematic collection.
Collector Perspective
This print appeals to collectors drawn to Fairey's media-critique and disinformation themes, as well as those who appreciate the tactile quality of letterpress on hand-deckled cotton paper. The availability of multiple colorways, including this Black variant, offers variant-collecting interest. At 10 x 13 inches with an edition of 450 and an original price of $65, it is one of the more accessible works in Fairey's catalog, ideal for newer collectors or those building a focused thematic group. It frames easily in small spaces and fits a collection organized around propaganda, media critique, or Fairey's letterpress editions.
Historical Context
Decoding Disinformation belongs to Fairey's 2017 Obey Giant releases and extends his long-running engagement with critiques of propaganda, media manipulation, and misinformation. Released July 25, 2017, it landed during a period of heightened public concern over disinformation, giving the work timely cultural relevance. Its letterpress execution on hand-deckled cotton paper reflects Fairey's continued exploration of varied print media beyond screen printing. Issued in several colorways, it exemplifies his practice of offering a single critical image across multiple variants and price points. Thematically and chronologically it sits within the Posters and Propaganda phase of his career, where his agitprop messaging on truth and media reached an especially pointed expression.
FAQ
What is the edition size and price?
Decoding Disinformation is a numbered edition of 450, signed by Shepard Fairey, with an original price of $65. Published by Obey Giant on July 25, 2017, it is one of his more accessible smaller-format editions. This record represents the Black colorway.
What is the medium and size?
It is a letterpress print measuring 10 x 13 inches on white cotton paper with hand-deckled edges. The letterpress technique gives the work a tactile, debossed quality distinct from Fairey's screen prints, lending fine-art character to a small format.
What colorways are available?
The source lists Black, Cream, Letterpress, and Red among the editions. This record is the Black variant. Collectors interested in variants may pursue more than one colorway of the same image.
What is the theme of this print?
The title and imagery engage Fairey's recurring critique of misinformation and media manipulation. Released in 2017 amid heightened public concern over disinformation, the print reflects his role as a visual commentator on the information landscape.
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.