Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Art Is For Everybody”?
Artist Statement
I grew up in South Carolina, so when I saw street art and graffiti up everywhere on my early trips to New York, I fell in love with the art form. It wasn't about elitists institutions, and that inspired me. Keith Haring's philosophy that "the public has a right to art" was embodied in his street art and the art products he made affordable for the masses, all of which made my path as an artist very clear. Keith Haring is a hero of mine because of his mission to make his work accessible and make art more democratic. Haring's hybrid of street, gallery, products and clothing, with all pushing forward social commentary. He funded his accessible works, like t-shirts, posters, pins, through his fine art paintings, which is a model that I have adopted myself. This letterpress print is an homage to Keith Haring as an artist, activist, shaper of culture and personal role model. A portion of proceeds from this print will go to Ali Forney Center. I did this illustration because I love Keith Haring and his art, but also because I had an opportunity to do something very cool with Adobe, so keep your eyes peeled for that project. In the meantime, here's the print. Thank you to photographer Paulo Fridman for providing the reference image for this illustration. -Shepard Art is for Everybody. 14.5 x 19 inches. Letterpress on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges.. Original photo by Paulo Fridman. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 450. $80. Proceeds go to Ali Forney Center.
Summary
Art Is For Everybody is a 2020 Shepard Fairey letterpress print made as an homage to Keith Haring. Printed on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges, it measures 14.5 x 19 inches, is signed, and was issued in a numbered edition of 450. Based on a reference photo by Paulo Fridman, the work celebrates Haring's belief that 'the public has a right to art' and his model of funding accessible work through fine art. At $80, the relatively affordable price echoes that democratic ideal. A portion of proceeds went to the Ali Forney Center.
Why It Matters
This print is a tribute that doubles as a statement of Fairey's own artistic philosophy. He cites Keith Haring as a personal hero and role model, crediting Haring's hybrid practice, blending street art, gallery work, products, and clothing, with making his own path as an artist clear. By honoring Haring's conviction that art should be accessible and democratic, the piece functions as a self-portrait of Fairey's values: he explicitly notes that he adopted Haring's model of funding affordable works like posters, pins, and shirts through fine art sales. The deliberately low $80 price reinforces that 'art is for everybody' message in practice, not just imagery. The charitable tie to the Ali Forney Center, which serves LGBTQ youth, deepens the connection to Haring's own activism and community. For collectors, this is one of Fairey's more philosophically transparent prints, a work that documents his lineage and influences while remaining affordable and accessible, exactly as its title insists. It also carries a documented connection to a forthcoming Adobe project, situating it within Fairey's continued embrace of new creative platforms.
Collector Perspective
This print speaks to collectors interested in art history, artist-to-artist homage, and accessible pricing. Its affordability at issue makes it an approachable entry point into Fairey's catalog, aligning with the very democratic ideal it celebrates. Fans of Keith Haring, of street-art lineage, and of socially engaged work will find it especially meaningful. The letterpress process with hand-deckled edges gives it a tactile, gallery-quality feel, and at 14.5 x 19 inches it frames easily. The Ali Forney Center charitable component adds purpose-driven appeal for collectors who value work tied to a cause and to Fairey's stated influences.
Historical Context
Art Is For Everybody places Fairey within a printmaking and street-art lineage that runs back through Keith Haring, whom Fairey credits as foundational to his understanding of accessible, democratic art. Released in his active 2020 studio period, it steps back from election-year politics to reflect on artistic philosophy and influence. The piece connects to Fairey's broader practice, rooted in his late-1980s OBEY street campaign, of using affordable editions to widen access to art. Its reference to a forthcoming Adobe collaboration also signals Fairey's ongoing engagement with digital tools and new platforms during this period.
FAQ
Who is this print honoring?
It is an homage to Keith Haring, whom Fairey calls a personal hero and role model for his mission to make art accessible and democratic. Fairey credits Haring's hybrid of street, gallery, and product work with shaping his own path.
What is the medium and size?
It is a letterpress print on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges, measuring 14.5 x 19 inches. It is based on a reference photo by Paulo Fridman and signed by Shepard Fairey.
Does this print support a cause?
Yes. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Ali Forney Center. The print was issued in a numbered edition of 450 at $80, a deliberately accessible price that echoes its 'art is for everybody' theme.
Why is the price so low?
The affordable $80 price reflects the print's message. Fairey notes he adopted Haring's model of funding accessible works through fine art, making the low price a practical expression of the democratic ideal the print celebrates.
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.