Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Specials Encore 2019”?
Artist Statement
I'm always excited when I can work with bands that have been a part of my life for years! The Specials are a long time favorite of mine, and I was happy to work with them on this poster for their current Encore 40th Anniversary Tour! – Shepard Specials Encore 2019 on true white Speckletone Paper. 18 x 24 inches. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 550. $75.
Summary
Specials Encore 2019 is a screen print published by Obey Giant in 2019, made in collaboration with the band The Specials for their Encore 40th Anniversary Tour. Printed on true white Speckletone paper at 18 x 24 inches, it was issued as a numbered first edition of 550, signed by Shepard Fairey, and offered at $75. The poster reflects Fairey's longstanding personal affinity for the band, whom he describes as a longtime favorite. As a tour poster collaboration, it sits within his music-related output, pairing his graphic poster sensibility with a specific band partnership tied to their anniversary tour.
Why It Matters
This poster captures Fairey's deep roots in music culture, specifically his affinity for The Specials, a band central to the 2 Tone and ska revival movements he has cited as personal influences. Music collaborations are a core thread in his career, and a poster tied to the band's Encore 40th Anniversary Tour links his graphic-design practice to a concrete musical milestone. Unlike his large-format archival serigraphs, this is an accessibly priced, mid-sized signed edition of 550, making it a practical entry point for collectors who want an authentic, artist-signed Fairey at a lower price. Its value comes less from scarcity and more from the cultural pairing: a respected street artist creating a sanctioned tour poster for a band whose anti-racist, working-class ethos aligns with his own activist sensibility. For music-and-art crossover collectors, the piece is a documented official collaboration rather than a generic fan item. It complements his other band posters and counterculture works, and its signature and numbering give it collectible legitimacy. The work shows how Fairey continues to merge his visual identity with the bands that shaped him, extending a practice that runs throughout his catalog.
Collector Perspective
Specials Encore 2019 is ideal for collectors who sit at the crossroads of music fandom and street-art collecting, especially fans of The Specials and the 2 Tone era. At $75 for a signed, numbered edition of 550, it is an approachable piece for newer collectors or for music enthusiasts building a wall of authentic concert and tour art. Its 18 x 24-inch size frames easily and groups naturally with Fairey's other band collaborations and counterculture posters. The appeal is the combination of an official tour tie-in, the artist's personal connection to the band, and a genuine Shepard Fairey signature. It fits a music-themed collection or a broader Fairey grouping where the collaborative, pop-culture works provide variety alongside his political and environmental prints.
Historical Context
This poster belongs to Fairey's extensive run of music collaborations, a strand of work that predates and parallels his fine-art editions and reflects his origins in skate, punk, and ska subcultures. Created for The Specials' Encore 40th Anniversary Tour in 2019, it documents his continued partnerships with bands that shaped his sensibility. In his arc, music posters like this one function as both fan tribute and graphic-design showcase, distinct from the large-format archival serigraphs Obey Giant released the same year. The piece situates Fairey within the long history of artist-made concert and tour posters and underscores how his personal musical loyalties remain an active source of subject matter throughout his career.
FAQ
Who is this poster made for?
Shepard Fairey created it in collaboration with The Specials for their Encore 40th Anniversary Tour in 2019. Fairey describes the band as a longtime favorite and says he was happy to work with them, reflecting his personal connection to the music.
What is the edition size and price?
Specials Encore 2019 was issued as a numbered first edition of 550, signed by Shepard Fairey, and offered at $75. It is a screen print on true white Speckletone paper measuring 18 x 24 inches, published by Obey Giant.
What size is the print?
The poster measures 18 x 24 inches and is printed on true white Speckletone paper. It is signed and numbered, making it an accessibly sized and priced signed Fairey work tied to a specific tour.
Is this an official band collaboration?
Yes. According to the source, Fairey worked directly with The Specials on this poster for their current Encore 40th Anniversary Tour, making it a sanctioned tour collaboration rather than an unofficial fan piece.
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.