Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Obey Deco Flower (Gold (Holiday) Edition)”?
Artist Statement
18 inches by 24 inches Edition of 400 December 31, 2019 Holiday Edition - Not For Sale From Obeygiant.com : Thank you all for your amazing support in 2019. This time of year has several holiday names and rituals for people from a variety of religious and cultural backgrounds. I'll just call it "the holidays" to be as all-inclusive as possible, and I hope I can do that without triggering accusations that I'm part of "the war on Christmas." I'm fine with Christmas, but I'd prefer to look at the positive spirit of the season in a broader way. The holidays remind me to focus on things that should be front and center all year… to be thankful for friends and family, to be grateful for my health and career opportunities, but mostly to think about people other than myself and recognize the struggles of all of humanity, especially those facing economic hardship and injustice. The ritual of giving gifts during the holidays is meaningful because we have to ask ourselves "what would so and so really want, or better yet, what do they need?" I'm always a bit ashamed that such a simple exercise seems to be easily applied to friends and family, but applying it more broadly is challenging. My 2020 vision (see what I did there?) is that we can all be united in shaping a kinder and more just world!? -Shepard
Summary
Obey Deco Flower (Gold Holiday Edition) is a 2019 Shepard Fairey screen print, 18 x 24 inches, in an edition of 400, released December 31, 2019 as a holiday edition marked not for sale. Issued through Obey Giant, it pairs Fairey's decorative deco floral motif with OBEY iconography. The accompanying message thanks supporters for 2019 and reflects on the holidays as a time for gratitude and for recognizing the struggles of humanity, especially those facing economic hardship and injustice, expressing a hope for a kinder, more just world.
Why It Matters
This year-end holiday edition blends Fairey's decorative deco floral patterning with his social-justice messaging, making it a warmer, more reflective entry in his catalog. The source frames it as a thank-you to supporters for 2019 and a meditation on the holidays as an occasion for gratitude and for thinking beyond oneself, recognizing those facing economic hardship and injustice, with a hope to be united in shaping a kinder, more just world. Marked not for sale, it functioned as a gift-spirited release rather than a commercial drop, which gives it a distinct status within Fairey's output. For collectors, the holiday framing, the not-for-sale designation, and the edition of 400 set it apart from standard releases. The gold colorway of the deco floral motif ties it to Fairey's ongoing pattern-based decorative work while the artist statement anchors it in his civil-rights-and-justice themes, bridging his ornamental and message-driven sides in a single seasonal piece.
Collector Perspective
This appeals to collectors who appreciate Fairey's decorative deco floral patterns and to those who seek the distinctive holiday and not-for-sale editions in his catalog. The 18 x 24 inch format frames easily, and the gold colorway gives the floral motif a festive, ornamental presence that suits display year-round, not only at the holidays. Its edition of 400 and special seasonal status make it a desirable completeness piece for year-set or OBEY-pattern collectors. The accompanying message about gratitude and justice adds narrative depth for those who value Fairey's social commentary. Because it was a holiday edition not offered for sale, collectors should note its provenance and distribution differ from standard releases.
Historical Context
Released on the last day of 2019, Obey Deco Flower (Gold Holiday Edition) sits within Fairey's tradition of year-end holiday prints that combine decorative patterning with a reflective social message. It draws on his deco floral pattern work, which recurs across his fine-art and street output, and pairs it with OBEY iconography. The artist statement frames it through his civil-rights-and-justice concerns, looking toward 2020 with a wish for a kinder, more just world. As a not-for-sale holiday edition, it represents the gift-oriented, community-facing side of his practice rather than his commercial or overtly political releases, marking a seasonal pause within his prolific activism-era schedule.
FAQ
What is Obey Deco Flower (Gold Holiday Edition)?
It is a 2019 Shepard Fairey screen print measuring 18 x 24 inches in an edition of 400, released December 31, 2019. Issued through Obey Giant as a holiday edition, it was marked not for sale and pairs a deco floral motif with OBEY iconography.
Was this print sold?
No. The source states it was a Holiday Edition marked not for sale, distributed in the spirit of the holidays rather than offered commercially.
What message accompanies the print?
Fairey thanks supporters for 2019 and reflects on the holidays as a time for gratitude and for recognizing the struggles of humanity, especially those facing economic hardship and injustice, expressing a hope to be united in shaping a kinder, more just world.
What are the dimensions and edition size?
It measures 18 inches by 24 inches and was released in an edition of 400.
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.