Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Tunnel Vision (Alternative Gold)”?
Artist Statement
Tunnel Vision Version 2 (Alternate Gold). 18 x 24 inches. Screen print on cream Speckletone paper. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 700
Summary
Tunnel Vision (Alternative Gold), released in 2018, is a screen print on cream Speckletone paper measuring 18 x 24 inches. Published by Obey Giant, it is signed by Shepard Fairey and issued in a numbered edition of 700. The print belongs to a set of color variants (Alternative Blue, Alternative Gold, Blue, and Gold) and reflects Fairey's pop-culture and collaboration-leaning output of the period. Its decorative, pattern-forward composition uses the warm metallic gold palette characteristic of this alternate version, rendered in Fairey's signature graphic style on textured cream stock.
Why It Matters
Tunnel Vision sits within Fairey's broad catalog of accessibly priced, mid-size screen prints that pair decorative ornamentation with his recognizable graphic vocabulary. Issued as one of four color variants, it appeals to collectors who track variant sets and enjoy the interplay between palettes within a single composition. At 18 x 24 inches on cream Speckletone paper, it is a familiar Obey Giant format that frames easily and reads well in a grouping of complementary prints. The edition of 700 places it among the more available releases, which historically makes such prints an approachable entry point for newer collectors and a flexible piece for those assembling thematic walls. Because the print leans toward pattern and decorative impact rather than overt political messaging, its significance is more aesthetic than topical: it demonstrates Fairey's command of layered, ornamental design and metallic ink effects. Within a Fairey collection it functions as a companion piece, strengthening sets that mix his propaganda-inspired and purely decorative work. Its value to collectors rests on the variant relationship, the signed-and-numbered status, and its role rounding out a representative survey of Fairey's 2018 print run.
Collector Perspective
This print suits collectors who appreciate Fairey's decorative, pattern-driven side and those who enjoy assembling variant sets, since Tunnel Vision exists in multiple color editions. The warm gold palette makes it a strong display piece for a living space or office, pairing naturally with other cream-stock Obey prints. At its original accessible price point and a larger edition of 700, it is an approachable acquisition for newer collectors or for someone filling out a 2018-era grouping. Buyers focused on overt political content may find it less central, but for design-minded collectors it offers clean graphic appeal and metallic ink interest. It fits comfortably within a broader OBEY-pop survey rather than a single-issue thematic collection, and its signed-and-numbered status supports long-term collectibility.
Historical Context
Tunnel Vision was released in March 2018, during a prolific stretch in which Fairey issued numerous screen prints through Obey Giant alongside his more politically charged work of the period. The release of multiple color variants is consistent with Fairey's recurring practice of offering a single composition across several palettes, giving collectors options and creating natural set relationships. Positioned within his pop-culture and collaboration-adjacent output rather than his pointed political series, the print reflects the decorative, pattern-forward thread that runs throughout his catalog. It belongs to the same broad 2018 wave as numerous other Obey Giant editions, and its accessible format and larger edition size are typical of the mid-tier prints Fairey used to keep his work attainable to a wide audience during this very active production year.
FAQ
What are the dimensions and medium of Tunnel Vision (Alternative Gold)?
It measures 18 x 24 inches and is a screen print on cream Speckletone paper. This is a common mid-size Obey Giant format that frames easily and is well suited to display alongside other Fairey prints of similar dimensions and paper stock.
Is this print signed and numbered?
Yes. According to the source, Tunnel Vision Version 2 (Alternate Gold) is signed by Shepard Fairey and issued as a numbered edition of 700, published by Obey Giant in 2018.
How does the Alternative Gold relate to the other versions?
Tunnel Vision was released across several color variants, including Alternative Blue, Alternative Gold, Blue, and Gold. The Alternative Gold uses a warm metallic palette and is one option within this variant set, appealing to collectors who like comparing palettes of the same composition.
Is this a rare print?
It is a numbered edition of 700, which places it among the more available Fairey releases rather than the scarce ones. Its appeal rests on the signed-and-numbered status, the variant relationship, and its decorative graphic design rather than on low edition size.
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.