Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “State Violence State Control”?
Artist Statement
State Violence State Control. 18 x 24 inches. Screen print on cream Speckletone paper. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 400. $50.
Summary
State Violence State Control is a 2018 Shepard Fairey screen print published by Obey Giant, measuring 18 x 24 inches on cream Speckletone paper. The title points to a critique of state-sanctioned violence and control, consistent with Fairey's anti-authoritarian themes, though the source provides only minimal descriptive detail. It was signed by the artist and released as a numbered edition of 400 at an original price of $50. The work uses Fairey's familiar graphic-design and propaganda-inspired visual language.
Why It Matters
State Violence State Control carries a title that places it directly within Fairey's long-standing critique of authoritarian power and the apparatus of state control, a thread that runs from his earliest OBEY work through his mature political prints. Even with limited descriptive information in the source, the title alone signals a confrontational stance against state-sanctioned violence and surveillance-style authority, themes Fairey has explored repeatedly. For collectors, the piece fits cleanly into his propaganda-inspired body of work, where bold graphic design is deployed to question power. Released in 2018 as part of a busy stretch of politically charged editions, it reflects the climate of heightened civic anxiety he was responding to throughout that period. As a numbered edition of 400 at an accessible original price, it offers an affordable entry into his political catalog. Because the source description is sparse, the strongest claims rest on the title and Fairey's documented thematic patterns rather than on detailed artist commentary, so its significance is best understood as part of his broader anti-authoritarian output rather than as a standalone milestone.
Collector Perspective
This print suits collectors of Fairey's political and anti-authoritarian works who appreciate his propaganda-inspired graphic style. Its confrontational title makes it a natural fit for a grouping focused on power, control, and state critique. At 18 x 24 inches on cream Speckletone stock, it pairs well with other 2017-2018 Obey Giant editions of similar scale. With a numbered edition of 400 and an accessible original price, it appeals to buyers building out a political sub-collection without a large outlay. Because the source detail is limited, collectors drawn to it will likely respond most to its theme and Fairey's recognizable visual language rather than a specific documented backstory.
Historical Context
State Violence State Control was released in February 2018 through Obey Giant, during a period when Fairey produced numerous politically charged editions in the wake of his We the People campaign and DAMAGED exhibition. The title aligns with his enduring critique of authoritarian power and state control, a concern present since the conceptual roots of the OBEY project. While the source offers little narrative context, the work fits a recognizable pattern in his arc: using accessible screen-print editions to question institutional power and the use of force. It sits among a cluster of 2018 releases that reflect the charged political environment Fairey was actively engaging through his art.
FAQ
What is the edition size of this print?
State Violence State Control was published by Obey Giant in a numbered edition of 400, signed by Shepard Fairey. It was issued at an original price of $50, placing it among his more accessible political screen-print editions from 2018.
What are the dimensions and materials?
The print measures 18 x 24 inches and is a screen print on cream Speckletone paper, consistent with the standard format of many Obey Giant editions from this period. It was signed and numbered by Shepard Fairey.
What theme does the title suggest?
The title points to a critique of state-sanctioned violence and control, consistent with Fairey's long-standing anti-authoritarian and power-critique themes. The source provides limited descriptive detail, so interpretation rests largely on the title and his documented body of political work.
Where does it fit in Fairey's output?
It was released in February 2018, during a productive stretch of politically charged editions following his We the People campaign and DAMAGED exhibition. It belongs to his broader anti-authoritarian and propaganda-inspired catalog rather than functioning as a single standalone statement.
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.