Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “N*E*R*D: Cracked But Unbroken”?
Artist Statement
I designed the N*E*R*D logo for their first album in 2001 and I was excited to do it, both because I liked the music they shared with me a lot, but also because I was already a fan of what Pharrell Williams and The Neptunes were doing with their hip-hop production work. Since then, Pharrell has proved to be a major force culturally as a member of N*E*R*D, as a solo artist, as a producer for other artists, and as a fashion designer. I was excited when he and his team asked me to collaborate on a piece of art for a limited number of t-shirts and posters for ComplexCon. We are donating proceeds of the print and t-shirt sales to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Check it out and drop by Obey Clothing's booth at ComplexCon! – Shepard N*E*R*D: Cracked But Unbroken. 18 x 24 inches. Screen print on cream Speckletone paper. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 200. $65.
Summary
N*E*R*D: Cracked But Unbroken is a 2017 Shepard Fairey screen print published by Obey Giant, created as a collaboration with Pharrell Williams and N*E*R*D for ComplexCon. It is a screen print on cream Speckletone paper measuring 18 x 24 inches, signed by Shepard Fairey in a numbered edition of 200 at $65. Per Fairey's text, he designed the original N*E*R*D logo in 2001 and reunited with the group for limited t-shirts and posters at ComplexCon, with proceeds from the print and t-shirt sales donated to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Why It Matters
N*E*R*D: Cracked But Unbroken ties together several threads that make Fairey collaborations compelling: a deep, documented artist relationship, a music and fashion crossover, and a charitable purpose. In his own text, Fairey recalls designing N*E*R*D's logo in 2001 for the group's first album and his admiration for Pharrell Williams and The Neptunes, framing this 2017 print as a reunion years in the making. The collaboration was tied to ComplexCon and Obey Clothing, situating it at the intersection of music, streetwear, and contemporary cultural events, exactly the kind of cross-disciplinary space Fairey thrives in. Notably, Fairey states that proceeds from the print and t-shirt sales were donated to the Southern Poverty Law Center, giving the release a clear cause-driven dimension that resonates with mission-oriented collectors. With a tight edition of just 200, the smallest in this group, it is more limited than many of his concurrent releases, heightening its appeal to collaboration and Pharrell completists. At $65 on cream Speckletone paper, it remained accessible despite its small run. For collectors, the value lies in the documented Fairey-Pharrell history, the ComplexCon and streetwear context, the SPLC charitable tie, and the relatively small edition, a combination that makes it a more distinctive collaborative piece than a routine single-artist drop.
Collector Perspective
This print is a strong fit for Pharrell Williams and N*E*R*D fans, collectors of Fairey collaborations, and those drawn to streetwear-adjacent and ComplexCon-era cultural artifacts. Its documented backstory, Fairey designed the N*E*R*D logo in 2001 and reunited with the group here, gives it real narrative depth for display and conversation. The relatively small edition of 200, the smallest in this batch, adds appeal for collectors who value tighter runs, while the $65 original price kept it accessible. The stated donation of proceeds to the Southern Poverty Law Center also draws mission-minded buyers. At 18 x 24 inches on cream Speckletone paper, it frames well within a music or collaboration themed collection.
Historical Context
Released November 2017 by Obey Giant, N*E*R*D: Cracked But Unbroken extends a Fairey-Pharrell relationship dating to 2001, when Fairey designed the group's logo for their first album. The 2017 reunion, tied to ComplexCon and Obey Clothing, reflects Fairey's deepening engagement with streetwear and contemporary cultural events during the late 2010s. The donation of proceeds to the Southern Poverty Law Center situates the piece within his frequent pairing of art releases with charitable and social causes. As one of the smaller editions in his dense 2017 run, it underscores how he reserved tighter runs for specific collaborative and event-driven projects.
FAQ
How is Fairey connected to N*E*R*D?
Per his text, Fairey designed the original N*E*R*D logo in 2001 for the group's first album and was a fan of Pharrell Williams and The Neptunes. This 2017 print marks a reunion, created when Pharrell's team asked him to collaborate on art for ComplexCon.
Where did proceeds from this print go?
Fairey states that proceeds from the print and t-shirt sales were donated to the Southern Poverty Law Center. This charitable dimension gives the release a cause-driven purpose that appeals to mission-oriented collectors.
What is the edition size?
It is a signed, numbered edition of 200, the smallest edition in this group of 2017 releases. At 18 x 24 inches on cream Speckletone paper and an original price of $65, it pairs a relatively tight run with an accessible price point.
What event was this print tied to?
The print was created for ComplexCon as a collaboration with Pharrell and N*E*R*D, with limited t-shirts and posters. Fairey's text invites fans to visit Obey Clothing's booth, situating the piece within music, streetwear, and contemporary cultural-event culture.
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.