Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Wide Awake, Eyes Open”?
Artist Statement
Shepard Fairey, WIDE AWAKE, EYES OPEN (silkscreen with metallic gold and navy blue ink on heavy weight cream Speckle Tone paper, 18 x 24 inches), signed and numbered edition of 450, 2020.
Summary
Wide Awake, Eyes Open is a 2020 Shepard Fairey silkscreen printed with metallic gold and navy blue ink on heavyweight cream Speckletone paper. It measures 18 x 24 inches and was issued as a signed and numbered first edition of 450. The source description focuses on the print's materials, ink colors, dimensions, and edition, with limited additional narrative. The title's emphasis on alertness and awareness suggests a message about staying vigilant, though deeper thematic context is not documented in this record, so interpretation is kept measured.
Why It Matters
Wide Awake, Eyes Open distinguishes itself materially through its use of metallic gold paired with navy blue ink, a richer palette than Fairey's standard cream-and-black screen prints, giving the edition a more luxe, decorative presence. The title evokes themes of vigilance and awareness that recur across Fairey's politically engaged work, and its 2020 release places it within his most active election-year period, though the specific message is not elaborated in the source. With a first edition of 450 at a $100 issue price, it sits in the middle tier of his output, accessible yet not mass-produced. For collectors, the metallic-ink treatment is the key differentiator: it photographs and displays distinctively and signals a more premium production choice within the year's releases. Because the record offers limited narrative, the print is best valued on its craftsmanship, palette, and place within Fairey's 2020 catalog rather than on a documented campaign or cause. It remains a representative example of how Fairey varied materials and finishes to give individual editions their own visual identity.
Collector Perspective
This print appeals to collectors who prioritize visual and material distinction, since the metallic gold and navy ink combination sets it apart from Fairey's more common palettes and rewards in-person viewing. At 18 x 24 inches it frames easily and works as a statement piece. The first edition of 450 is moderate, and the $100 issue price kept it within reach for many buyers. With limited descriptive context, collectors are drawn primarily by the palette, the heavyweight paper, and its fit within a 2020 grouping of Fairey's signed editions.
Historical Context
Wide Awake, Eyes Open was released during Fairey's prolific 2020 studio period, alongside numerous election-year and collaborative prints. Its metallic-and-navy ink treatment reflects Fairey's habit of using varied finishes to differentiate editions. Although the title gestures toward themes of vigilance common in his activist work, the source does not tie it to a specific event or cause, so it is best situated broadly within his 2020 output rather than to a documented campaign.
FAQ
What inks and paper were used?
It is a silkscreen printed with metallic gold and navy blue ink on heavyweight cream Speckle Tone paper, a richer palette than Fairey's standard cream-and-black screen prints.
What are the size and edition?
The print measures 18 x 24 inches and was issued as a signed and numbered first edition of 450 in 2020 at a $100 price point.
Is this print signed and numbered?
Yes. According to the source, Wide Awake, Eyes Open is a signed and numbered edition of 450, produced by Fairey's studio in 2020.
What does the title suggest?
The title emphasizes alertness and awareness, themes of vigilance that recur in Fairey's politically engaged work. The source does not elaborate on a specific message, so the reading is kept general.
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.