Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Obey Conformity Factory (Orange)”?
Artist Statement
I think this text in this Conformity Factory print speaks for itself, but I'd add that we all need to ask the question: who are the overlords of the conformity factory, what is their agenda, and have we willingly or unwittingly accepted a role in their play while abandoning our own? Listen to your conscience and Gang of Four for clues (and awesome tunes… from Gang of Four at least)!? -Shepard? OBEY Conformity Factory (Orange). Screenprint on cream Speckle Tone Paper. 18 x 24 inches. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 300. $45
Summary
Obey Conformity Factory (Orange) is a 2019 Shepard Fairey screen print on cream Speckle Tone paper, measuring 18 x 24 inches. The text-driven print poses a pointed question about conformity, asking who the overlords of the "conformity factory" are, what their agenda is, and whether viewers have willingly or unwittingly accepted a role in their play. In his accompanying note, Fairey points to the post-punk band Gang of Four as a cue, tying the work to music and counterculture. Published by Obey Giant, it was issued as a signed, numbered edition of 300. The orange edition is one of two colorways, alongside a red version.
Why It Matters
Obey Conformity Factory channels Fairey's long-running interest in the intersection of music, dissent, and critiques of mass conformity. The print's text speaks for itself, as Fairey notes, urging viewers to identify the overlords of the conformity factory and question whether they have unwittingly accepted a role in someone else's play, a theme he explicitly links to the post-punk band Gang of Four. That musical reference roots the work in the counterculture lineage that has shaped Fairey's sensibility, where punk and post-punk politics meet graphic agitation. For collectors, the appeal lies in this fusion of message and music heritage, delivered at an accessible price point and a manageable 18 x 24-inch scale. The edition of 300 and the existence of an alternate red colorway give it modest variety for those who collect color variants. It rewards collectors who appreciate Fairey's text-based, music-adjacent agitprop and his habit of citing specific bands as ideological touchstones. As a relatively affordable signed edition, it offers an entry into the music-and-counterculture side of his catalog without the premium of his large-format archival releases.
Collector Perspective
This print suits collectors drawn to Fairey's music and counterculture work, especially those who appreciate explicit nods to bands like Gang of Four. Its text-forward, message-driven design makes it a conversation piece, and the accessible price point and 18 x 24-inch scale make it easy to display and attainable for newer buyers. The signed, numbered edition of 300 and the existence of a companion red colorway add appeal for collectors who like to assemble color variants. It fits naturally within a music-themed or counterculture-focused subset of a collection, pairing well with Fairey's other band-referencing and post-punk-inspired prints.
Historical Context
Obey Conformity Factory (Orange) dates to 2019 and reflects Fairey's deep roots in punk and post-punk counterculture, here made explicit through his citation of Gang of Four. Throughout his career, music has functioned as both inspiration and ideological reference for Fairey, and this text-based print continues that thread by framing conformity and hidden agendas as something to resist, with a band serving as the cultural touchstone. Within his arc, the work belongs to the accessible, message-driven side of his output rather than his premium archival portraits, and it sits among the many releases through which Fairey ties graphic dissent to specific musical and countercultural influences. The orange and red colorways situate it among his color-variant editions from this period.
FAQ
What is Obey Conformity Factory (Orange)?
It is a 2019 Shepard Fairey screen print on cream Speckle Tone paper, measuring 18 x 24 inches. The text-driven work questions conformity and hidden agendas, with Fairey citing the band Gang of Four as a cue. It was published by Obey Giant in a numbered edition of 300.
How large is the edition?
Obey Conformity Factory (Orange) was issued as a signed, numbered edition of 300, signed by Shepard Fairey. An alternate red colorway also exists alongside this orange version, per the release information.
What is the music connection?
In his note accompanying the print, Fairey suggests listening to your conscience and to the post-punk band Gang of Four for clues about conformity and hidden agendas, tying the work directly to music and counterculture.
What are its dimensions and medium?
It is a screen print on cream Speckle Tone paper, measuring 18 x 24 inches, published by Obey Giant in 2019.
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.