What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Cultivate Justice (Blue)”?

Artist Statement

My work primarily revolves around concepts of and aspirations for justice. Whether it be environmental justice, racial justice, economic justice, gender equality, etc., the themes in my art often address injustices in a number of areas. Justice is a subjective, and in some ways, an abstract concept, but I think we all know in our conscience when something is wrong, unfair, immoral, or unjust. I witness convoluted logic every day from people attempting to defend (or ironically justify) injustice. These "Cultivate Justice" prints are a direct reminder to consciously nurture justice and minimize injustice. A portion of proceeds from this print will benefit the Equal Justice Initiative to support their important work. -Shepard Cultivate Justice (Two Colorways: Blue & Red). 18 x 24 inches. A limited amount of matching numbered sets will be available for $110. Blue & Red sold separately for $55. Screenprint on thick cream Speckletone paper. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 400. $55.

Summary

Cultivate Justice (Blue) is a 2021 Shepard Fairey screen print published by Obey Giant, measuring 18 x 24 inches on thick cream Speckletone paper, signed and numbered in an edition of 400. It is the Blue colorway of a two-color release that also includes a Red version, with matching numbered sets offered separately. Fairey frames the print as a direct reminder to consciously nurture justice and minimize injustice across environmental, racial, economic, and gender dimensions. He describes justice as a subjective, somewhat abstract concept that people still recognize in conscience. The source notes a portion of proceeds benefits the Equal Justice Initiative.

Why It Matters

Cultivate Justice (Blue) functions almost as a thesis statement for Fairey's broader practice, in which, by his own account, his work primarily revolves around concepts of and aspirations for justice, whether environmental, racial, economic, or gender equality. The print's call to consciously nurture justice and minimize injustice frames the image as a deliberate, repeatable reminder rather than a response to a single event, which gives it a broad and durable relevance across his catalog. Its tie to the Equal Justice Initiative, noted in the source, situates it within Fairey's established practice of pairing editions with advocacy organizations and reflects the seriousness of its theme. Offered in coordinated Blue and Red colorways with matching numbered sets, it appeals both to single-print buyers and to collectors who pursue complete color pairings. The relatively accessible $55 single-print issue price and edition of 400 kept it widely attainable while delivering a concise, value-forward message. For a database, the differentiating element is Fairey's explicit articulation of justice as the organizing principle of his art, captured in his statement, which lets this entry anchor thematic connections across many other justice-titled works.

Collector Perspective

Cultivate Justice (Blue) attracts collectors who want a clear, text-and-symbol statement of Fairey's core justice theme, and who appreciate the option to acquire coordinated Blue and Red colorways as a set. Its clean 18 x 24 composition and strong color make it an easy, values-forward display piece suited to home or office walls. The Equal Justice Initiative association adds appeal for cause-minded buyers. At an edition of 400 per colorway it is moderately available among Fairey's signed screen prints, and the affordable original price point makes it a common entry choice for newer collectors. It fits naturally into thematic groupings around justice and equality, and pairs especially well with its Red counterpart or other same-period activist editions on matching cream stock.

Historical Context

Cultivate Justice belongs to Fairey's dense early-2020s run of justice-themed Obey Giant editions, a period in which he repeatedly distilled his political concerns into concise slogan-and-symbol prints tied to advocacy partners. Here the beneficiary is the Equal Justice Initiative, consistent with how cause partnerships had become a standard feature of his releases. The work's framing, justice as an abstract but conscience-recognizable ideal spanning environmental, racial, economic, and gender concerns, reflects the mature, umbrella-level messaging Fairey adopted as his catalog of single-issue prints grew. Released in late 2021 in coordinated colorways, it exemplifies his frequent strategy of issuing the same image in multiple colors to broaden appeal and create set-collecting opportunities. Within his arc it reads less as a stylistic milestone and more as a clarifying statement of the values underlying much of his contemporary output.

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Related Works

People's Discontent2021 · Same-year justice print sharing stock and activist messaging.

The Future Is Equal2022 · Continues the equality-and-justice theme into 2022.

Embrace Justice2018 · Earlier justice-titled work directly echoing the message.

Universal Dignity (Screenprint)2022 · Dignity-and-justice theme closely aligned with this print's aims.

Gears Of Justice2024 · Later justice-titled edition extending the same core theme.

Push Forward (Letterpress Edition)2021 · Same-year activist edition in the justice grouping.