Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Obey Conformity Trance (Black)”?
Artist Statement
Conformity: Action in accordance with some specified standard, social custom, or authority. Trance: A sleeplike state usually characterized by partly suspended, diminished, or absent sensory and motor activity. Obey as a pseudo-command in my art has always been a form of reverse psychology. My philosophy is actually "question everything". Conformity is often more unconscious than conscious… an adaptation to structures we may not agree with and a submission to unseen forces of manipulation… unseen because our eyes and minds are not open wide enough. People come up with conspiracy theories like "the Illuminati" to explain the feelings that they are cogs in someone else's machine, but the deconstruction of power and control requires nothing more than a conscious and diligent examination of how power and influence upon the government accumulate and concentrate under capitalism. Campaign finance reform is a great way to remove the corrupt influence of capitalism from government and make democracy work for an informed populace, which is why a portion of the proceeds from these prints will benefit RepresentUs. -Shepard Obey Conformity Trance. 18 x 24 inches. Screen print on thick cream Speckletone paper. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 350. $55.
Summary
Obey Conformity Trance is a 2021 screen print by Shepard Fairey that interrogates conformity and unconscious submission to unseen forces of manipulation. The source pairs definitions of conformity and trance with Fairey's explanation that OBEY functions as reverse psychology, with his actual philosophy being to question everything. The work critiques the concentration of power and influence under capitalism and advocates campaign finance reform. Measuring 18 x 24 inches and printed on thick cream Speckletone paper, it was published by Obey Giant in a numbered edition of 350, signed by Shepard Fairey. This Black edition released February 9, 2021 at $55, with proceeds benefiting RepresentUs.
Why It Matters
Obey Conformity Trance is one of Fairey's most explicitly self-reflexive prints, using the work itself to explain the OBEY device. By juxtaposing dictionary definitions of conformity and trance with his statement that OBEY is reverse psychology and his real philosophy is question everything, the piece foregrounds the conceptual engine behind his entire iconography. That makes it valuable not just as an image but as a key to reading his broader catalog. The accompanying text critiques the concentration of power and influence under capitalism and rejects conspiracy-theory thinking in favor of clear-eyed examination of how money shapes government, advocating campaign finance reform as a concrete remedy. Tying proceeds to RepresentUs anchors that argument in a real reform organization. Issued in Black and Red colorways, it offers collectors a paired set and demonstrates Fairey's habit of extending a strong composition across palettes. With a tight edition of 350 per colorway, it sits at the intersection of his signature OBEY branding and his political critique of consumerism and power, making it both a recognizable design and a substantive statement about manipulation, awareness, and democratic reform.
Collector Perspective
This appeals to collectors who prize the OBEY iconography at the conceptual core of Fairey's practice, as well as those drawn to his critiques of power and consumerism. Because the print openly explains the reverse-psychology meaning behind OBEY, it carries strong storytelling value and works well as an anchor piece in a collection focused on his branding and message. At 18 x 24 inches it is a framable, display-friendly size, and the Black and Red colorways give set-minded collectors a pair to pursue. Its edition of 350 per colorway is relatively contained, and the accessible original price plus the RepresentUs donation add appeal for values-oriented buyers. It fits naturally in an OBEY-focused or political-critique grouping.
Historical Context
Released in February 2021 by Obey Giant, Obey Conformity Trance revisits the foundational OBEY concept Fairey has developed since his early sticker and propaganda work, reframing it for a contemporary critique of capitalism and political influence. The print's explicit text makes it a useful touchstone for understanding how he intends the OBEY command to operate as reverse psychology. Its focus on campaign finance reform and partnership with RepresentUs reflect the civic-reform concerns running through his early-2020s output. Issued in multiple colorways, it follows his consistent practice of extending compositions across palettes. The work bridges his long-standing branding with his ongoing political messaging, situating the OBEY device firmly within his critique of power and consumerism.
FAQ
What does Obey Conformity Trance mean?
The source pairs definitions of conformity and trance with Fairey's explanation that OBEY is a form of reverse psychology and that his actual philosophy is to question everything. The work critiques unconscious submission to power and influence concentrated under capitalism.
What political reform does it advocate?
According to the source, Fairey advocates campaign finance reform as a way to remove the corrupt influence of capitalism from government, which is why a portion of proceeds benefits RepresentUs.
Does this come in more than one colorway?
Yes. The source lists Black and Red colorways. This record covers the Black edition, numbered at 350 and signed by Shepard Fairey.
What are the size and edition details?
It is a screen print on thick cream Speckletone paper measuring 18 x 24 inches, published by Obey Giant in a numbered edition of 350. The Black edition released on February 9, 2021 at $55.
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.