Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Universal Dignity (Screenprint)”?
Artist Statement
The "Universal Dignity" print aims to promote peace, equality, and humanity. I'd like to see a fundamental assumption that ALL people deserve respect and human dignity. This applies to the universal meaning of dignity, to be valued, respected for what you are, what you believe in, and how you live your life. I consider myself a global citizen, and though I think the nations serve a structural function, all people should be equal, and everyone's life counts the same regardless of where they live. In line with the philosophy of this image, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the IRC (International Rescue Committee) to support Ukrainian refugees. Thanks for caring. -Shepard Universal Dignity. 18 x 24 inches. Screen print on thick cream Speckletone paper. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 600. $60.
Summary
Universal Dignity (Screenprint) is a 2022 Shepard Fairey screen print, 18 x 24 inches, on thick cream Speckletone paper, signed and from a numbered First Edition of 600, priced at $60. In an accompanying statement, Fairey explains the image promotes peace, equality, and the conviction that all people deserve respect and human dignity regardless of where they live, framing himself as a global citizen. He notes that a portion of proceeds would be donated to the International Rescue Committee to support Ukrainian refugees, tying the print directly to a humanitarian cause.
Why It Matters
Universal Dignity distills Fairey's humanist politics into a single, direct message: that every person deserves respect and dignity regardless of nationality. Accompanied by the artist's own statement describing himself as a global citizen and dedicating proceeds to the International Rescue Committee for Ukrainian refugees, the print ties Fairey's recurring civil-rights and human-dignity themes to a specific, timely humanitarian crisis. That explicit charitable dimension and the artist's first-person framing give the work documentary weight beyond its image, anchoring it to a moment when displacement and refugee support were urgent global concerns. For collectors, it belongs to the cluster of Fairey works centered on equality and justice, a thematic spine that runs throughout his career. At an edition of 600 it is one of his more widely available screen prints of the period, making it an approachable entry into his explicitly political catalog. Issued as a signed, numbered First Edition on Speckletone stock at the standard 18 x 24 format, it carries the presentation collectors expect while foregrounding a message of universal human worth that pairs naturally with his other equality- and justice-themed editions.
Collector Perspective
This print suits collectors drawn to Fairey's explicitly humanist and civil-rights work, and those who value editions tied to charitable causes, here the International Rescue Committee and Ukrainian refugee support. Its clear message of equality and dignity makes it meaningful to display, and the standard 18 x 24 format makes it easy to frame and group. At a $60 issue price and an edition of 600, it is among his more accessible and obtainable political prints. It fits well within a thematic equality-and-justice grouping, complementing his other works on human rights, fairness, and shared dignity.
Historical Context
Published by Obey Giant in June 2022, Universal Dignity reflects Fairey's ongoing commitment to civil-rights and humanitarian themes, here sharpened by a stated donation to the International Rescue Committee in support of Ukrainian refugees during that period's displacement crisis. It continues the equality-focused thread that has run through his career and his frequent pairing of editions with activist causes. Within his arc, it sits among his 2020-2023 justice-themed releases, using accessible, signed screen-print editions to carry an explicitly global, humanist message.
FAQ
What is the message of Universal Dignity?
In his statement, Fairey says the print promotes peace, equality, and the belief that all people deserve respect and human dignity regardless of where they live. He describes himself as a global citizen and affirms that everyone's life counts the same.
Does this print support a cause?
Yes. Fairey stated that a portion of the proceeds would be donated to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to support Ukrainian refugees, tying the edition directly to a humanitarian cause.
What are the size, medium, and edition?
Universal Dignity is an 18 x 24 inch screen print on thick cream Speckletone paper, signed by Shepard Fairey. It is a numbered First Edition of 600, published by Obey Giant in 2022, priced at $60.
Is this an accessible print to collect?
At an edition of 600 and a $60 issue price, it is among Fairey's more widely available and approachable political screen prints, making it a reasonable entry point into his civil-rights and human-dignity work.
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.