Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Unyielding (First Edition)”?
Artist Statement
Edition of 350 36 Inch Triangle 3M5100 reflective on aluminium Signed by Shepard Fairey
Summary
Unyielding (First Edition) is a 2020 release published by Beyond The Streets, issued in an edition of 350 and signed by Shepard Fairey. It is a 36-inch triangle made of 3M5100 reflective material on aluminium. Rather than a paper print, it is a reflective metal object whose triangular form and reflective surface give it a distinct physical and light-responsive presence. The source description is brief, providing edition size, dimensions, materials, signature, and publisher, so interpretive claims about imagery and message are limited.
Why It Matters
Unyielding is notable as a physical object rather than a conventional print: a 36-inch triangular panel of 3M5100 reflective material mounted on aluminium, published by Beyond The Streets. The reflective surface makes the piece interact with ambient light, giving it a presence that changes with viewing conditions, a quality distinct from Fairey's paper editions. Its production through Beyond The Streets ties it to a respected street-art exhibition and publishing brand, adding provenance appeal for collectors who follow those collaborations. Issued in a signed edition of 350, it sits in a moderate range for availability. Because the source description is brief, its significance rests largely on its unusual format and materials rather than a documented narrative or political statement. For collectors, the value lies in owning a sculptural, light-responsive Fairey object with notable publisher provenance, which differentiates it from the bulk of his framed screen prints and offers display impact in spaces where reflective and dimensional works stand out.
Collector Perspective
This piece appeals to collectors seeking dimensional, non-paper Fairey works and to followers of Beyond The Streets collaborations. The 3M reflective material on aluminium gives it a light-responsive, sculptural quality that distinguishes it from framed prints, making it a striking display object in modern or design-forward spaces. Its 36-inch triangular form is bold and architectural. At a signed edition of 350 it is moderately available. Because the source is brief, buyers value it primarily for its format, materials, and Beyond The Streets provenance rather than a documented message. It suits collectors who want variety and physical presence beyond Fairey's standard print output.
Historical Context
Released in 2020 through Beyond The Streets, Unyielding reflects Fairey's collaborations with street-art exhibition and publishing platforms and his periodic move into dimensional, non-paper formats. Its use of 3M reflective material on aluminium aligns with his interest in objects that engage their environment beyond the flat page. The brief source limits deeper contextual claims, but the work fits within the collaboration-driven output of his later career and his ongoing relationship with Beyond The Streets. Within his arc it represents the material experimentation and crossover collectibles that complement his core screen-print practice.
FAQ
What material is Unyielding made from?
It is made of 3M5100 reflective material on aluminium, forming a 36-inch triangle. This reflective construction makes it a dimensional, light-responsive object rather than a conventional paper print.
What is the edition size?
The source states it is an edition of 350, signed by Shepard Fairey. This places it in a moderate availability range among Fairey's 2020 releases.
Who published this piece?
It was published by Beyond The Streets in 2020, the street-art exhibition and publishing brand, which adds collaborative provenance to the object.
Is this a print or an object?
It is a dimensional object rather than a paper print: a 36-inch triangular panel of reflective 3M material mounted on aluminium. The source provides its format, materials, edition, and signature but no extended description of imagery.
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.