Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Big Brother Is Watching You (Large Format)”?
Artist Statement
Since 1998, references to "1984," George Orwell's cautionary tale about a totalitarian state, have appeared in Fairey's work including several iterations of Big Brother. In 2008, Penguin Books (UK) approached Fairey to design the cover of Orwell's classic books "Animal Farm" and "1984." Fairey uses one of the most memorable phrases from the book, "Big Brother is Watching You," combined with the image of a menacing eye, to remind us that the technology society has grown to depend on is being used to monitor, register and influence our activity. The artist's use of Big Brother to urge citizens to question corporate and state surveillance, proved prescient as initiatives like the NSA surveillance programs made public by Edward Snowden, Cambridge Analytica's use of Facebook to manipulate the 2016 election, or China's pioneering a system of governing by surveillance, were revealed. From navigation, to gathering information and all forms of communication, digital devices have become integral to everyday activities for much of the world's population. Technology provides the ultimate convenience while simultaneously registering our every move. Fairey reminds us that technology makes us more susceptible to misinformation and manipulation. Raising the question, how do we take advantage of the conveniences afforded by digital technology without sacrificing our privacy and freedom? Orwell and Fairey share affinities as creators, their respective practices in literature and visual art are fueled by a desire to inspire the public to question the dominant narrative and challenge systemic forms of oppression and control. Inspired by the Spanish Civil War and the rise of the Third Reich, Orwell described his work as, "written directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism. "As a means to combat the governmental and corporate control of public space, Shepard Fairey was inspired to address abuse of authority on the street. Most importantly, both the author and the artist realized that to communicate effectively with the public, the creator must, "fuse political purpose and artistic purpose into one whole." The impact of Orwell's numerous essays and political pamphlets pale in comparison to his literary works. Likewise, Fairey's impact as an artist would have been minuscule if he had followed the art world rules and made work that only a privileged few could relate to. Big Brother Is Watching You. Serigraph on Coventry Rag, 100% Cotton Custom Archival Paper with hand-deckled edges. 30 x 41 inches. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 89. Comes with a certificate of authenticity. $900
Summary
Big Brother Is Watching You is a 2019 large-format screen print by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant in a signed, numbered edition of 89, measuring 30 x 41 inches on Coventry Rag 100% cotton archival paper with hand-deckled edges. The image pairs the iconic phrase from George Orwell's "1984" with a menacing eye to warn that the technology society depends on is used to monitor and influence behavior. Fairey draws an explicit parallel between Orwell's vision of a totalitarian surveillance state and contemporary realities of corporate and state data collection, urging viewers to question how convenience trades against privacy and freedom.
Why It Matters
Big Brother Is Watching You connects Fairey's art to one of the most enduring warnings in modern literature, Orwell's "1984," and underscores the prescience of his decades-long surveillance critique. Per the source, Fairey has referenced "1984" since 1998, and in 2008 Penguin Books UK commissioned him to design covers for "1984" and "Animal Farm," cementing his association with Orwell. The print frames the menacing eye and Orwell's phrase as a caution about technologies that monitor, register, and influence behavior, a message the source notes proved prescient amid revelations like NSA programs disclosed by Edward Snowden, Cambridge Analytica's use of Facebook, and China's surveillance-based governance. The work also articulates a shared creative philosophy: both Orwell and Fairey fuse political and artistic purpose to push the public to question dominant narratives. As a signed, numbered large-format edition of 89 on hand-deckled cotton rag, it offers fine-print presentation and relative scarcity. For collectors, it is a definitive statement of Fairey's surveillance and corporate-critique themes, anchored to a globally recognized literary touchstone that gives the piece broad cultural resonance and a clear, durable message.
Collector Perspective
This print is a natural fit for collectors focused on Fairey's surveillance and corporate-critique work, and for those drawn to the Orwellian "1984" connection, which broadens its appeal beyond dedicated Fairey collectors to fans of dystopian literature and political art. The bold menacing-eye composition makes a striking statement wall piece at 30 x 41 inches on hand-deckled cotton rag. The numbered edition of 89 places it among his more limited large-format releases, appealing to collectors who value lower edition sizes. It anchors collections built around surveillance, technology critique, or Fairey's recurring Big Brother iconography, and pairs well with related power-and-control prints.
Historical Context
Big Brother Is Watching You extends a thread in Fairey's work that, per the source, dates to 1998, when he began referencing Orwell's "1984," and was reinforced in 2008 when Penguin Books UK commissioned him to design covers for "1984" and "Animal Farm." The print situates his surveillance critique alongside Orwell's anti-totalitarian writing, framing both creators as fusing political and artistic purpose to challenge systemic control. Its 2019 release as a signed, numbered large-format screen print of 89 reflects Fairey's later practice of presenting this enduring imagery at scale on premium archival paper, placing it within his Posters and Propaganda body of work and his sustained engagement with state and corporate surveillance.
FAQ
What is the connection to George Orwell?
The print uses the phrase "Big Brother is Watching You" from Orwell's "1984." Per the source, Fairey has referenced the novel since 1998, and in 2008 Penguin Books UK commissioned him to design covers for "1984" and "Animal Farm."
What does the image warn about?
Combining a menacing eye with Orwell's phrase, Fairey warns that technology society depends on is used to monitor, register, and influence activity. The source notes the message proved prescient amid revelations about NSA surveillance, Cambridge Analytica, and surveillance-based governance.
What are the edition details?
It is a numbered edition of 89, signed by Shepard Fairey and published by Obey Giant in 2019, with a certificate of authenticity. The large-format print measures 30 x 41 inches.
What materials is the print made of?
It is a serigraph on Coventry Rag, 100% cotton custom archival paper with hand-deckled edges, measuring 30 x 41 inches. The original large-format release price was $900.
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.