Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “The Beauty Of Liberty And Equality”?
Artist Statement
The Beauty of Liberty and Equality 10 colour Screenprint 36X24'' on coventry rag 100% cotton custom archival paper with hand cut deckled edges Signed and numbered by both artists Edition of 200 600$ cad
Summary
The Beauty Of Liberty And Equality is a 2020 ten-color screen print measuring 24 x 36 inches on Coventry Rag 100% cotton custom archival paper with hand-cut deckled edges, signed and numbered by both artists, in an edition of 200, priced at $600 CAD and published by Station 16. The title foregrounds themes of liberty and equality, and the source identifies it as a civil-rights and justice work created as a collaboration. Its detailed multi-color screen printing and premium archival paper mark it as a higher-production, higher-priced collaborative edition within Fairey's 2020 output.
Why It Matters
The Beauty Of Liberty And Equality stands out as one of Fairey's more elaborate and higher-priced collaborative editions of 2020, and its specifications signal ambition. As a ten-color screen print on Coventry Rag 100% cotton custom archival paper with hand-cut deckled edges, signed and numbered by both artists, it represents a level of production well above his typical benefit prints, reflected in its $600 CAD price and small edition of 200 published by Station 16. The title's invocation of liberty and equality, paired with its civil-rights-and-justice framing, places it squarely within Fairey's enduring engagement with American ideals and social justice. The existence of an Austin mural version among its related works suggests the image had a public-art dimension beyond the print, extending its reach into the urban environment Fairey has always worked in. For collectors, the combination of complex ten-color printing, archival materials, dual signatures, and a tight edition makes this a premium acquisition. While the source description is concise, the documented production values and theme establish it as a flagship collaborative justice print rather than a casual release, giving it both aesthetic and conceptual weight in his contemporary catalog.
Collector Perspective
This appeals to serious collectors seeking a premium, complex Fairey collaboration and to buyers focused on his civil-rights and justice work. The ten-color screen printing, Coventry Rag archival cotton paper, hand-cut deckled edges, dual signatures, and small edition of 200 give it strong collectible credentials and make it a centerpiece-quality piece. At 24 x 36 inches it commands wall presence in a gallery or feature setting. Its higher $600 CAD price point positions it above his accessible releases, suiting collectors investing in production quality and rarity. The liberty-and-equality theme and the related Austin mural version give it a public-art and civic narrative that resonates with mission-driven buyers building a justice-focused collection.
Historical Context
The print belongs to Fairey's 2020 cluster of civil-rights and justice work, produced amid a year of intense social activism. Published by Station 16 as a collaboration and printed in ten colors on premium archival paper, it represents a more elaborate production than many of his benefit editions from the same period. The related Austin mural version indicates the image also functioned as public art, consistent with Fairey's mural practice. Its emphasis on liberty and equality continues his long engagement with American ideals and social justice, placing it among his flagship justice-themed collaborations of the contemporary era.
FAQ
What makes this print's production notable?
It is a ten-color screen print on Coventry Rag 100% cotton custom archival paper with hand-cut deckled edges, signed and numbered by both artists. This level of color complexity and premium archival material marks it as a higher-production edition, reflected in its $600 CAD price.
How large is the edition and who published it?
It is an edition of 200, published by Station 16 in 2020. The print is signed and numbered by both collaborating artists, making it a limited collaborative release rather than an open or large-run edition.
What are the dimensions and theme?
The print measures 24 x 36 inches. Its title foregrounds liberty and equality, and the source identifies it as a civil-rights and justice work, placing it within Fairey's ongoing engagement with American ideals and social justice.
Is there a related public artwork?
Yes. A related Austin mural version of The Beauty of Liberty and Equality exists, indicating the image was also realized as public art beyond the print edition, consistent with Fairey's long-standing mural practice.
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.