Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Rise Above Barbwire Flower (Red)”?
Artist Statement
The Rise Above Barbwire Flower letterpress print is inspired by the Black Flag song "Rise Above" as well as the philosophy to rise above pettiness and fight against injustice no matter how difficult things may be. The flowers growing from the barbwire symbolizes positive growth out of an oppressive situation. Hope and perseverance lift us while fear and anger drag us down. RISE ABOVE we're gonna RISE ABOVE! -Shepard Rise Above Barbwire Flower (Two Colorways: Blue & Red). A limited amount of matching numbered sets will be available for $130. Blue and Red sold separately for $65. 10 x 13 inches. Letterpress on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 250. Comes with a digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart. Obey publishing chop in lower left corner.
Summary
Rise Above Barbwire Flower (Red) is a 2022 Shepard Fairey letterpress print, 10 x 13 inches, on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges, signed and from a numbered edition of 250, priced at $65. It was released in two colorways, Blue and Red, with matching numbered sets also offered. The image shows flowers growing from barbwire, which Fairey says symbolizes positive growth out of an oppressive situation. He links the work to the Black Flag song "Rise Above" and a philosophy of rising above pettiness to fight injustice. It includes a digital Verisart Certificate of Authenticity and the Obey publishing chop.
Why It Matters
Rise Above Barbwire Flower fuses Fairey's punk roots, civil-rights themes, and his signature floral symbolism into a compact, emotionally direct image. Flowers growing from barbwire give a clear visual metaphor, beauty and hope emerging from oppression, that Fairey ties explicitly to the Black Flag song "Rise Above" and a personal philosophy of perseverance over fear and anger. That dual lineage, hardcore punk and social-justice optimism, makes it resonant for collectors who follow the music and activist sides of his work alike. The letterpress medium on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges sets it apart from his more common screen prints, giving it a tactile, craft-forward quality, while its smaller 10 x 13 format and edition of 250 make it one of the more intimate and limited releases of the period. Issued in two colorways with matching numbered sets, it rewards collectors who pursue complete variant sets. The inclusion of a Verisart digital Certificate of Authenticity and the Obey publishing chop reflects the studio's authentication practices for the era. Together these qualities, hopeful symbolism, punk reference, distinctive letterpress craft, and a modest edition, make it a meaningful, message-rich piece within his justice-themed catalog.
Collector Perspective
This print appeals to collectors who value Fairey's punk references, his hopeful justice symbolism, and the distinctive letterpress medium with hand-deckled edges. Its compact 10 x 13 size suits intimate framing and grouping, and the Red colorway pairs naturally with the Blue for those who want the matching set. At a $65 issue price and an edition of 250 it is accessible yet more limited than his larger screen prints. The Verisart certificate and Obey chop add authentication appeal. It displays well with his other justice-themed and floral works, anchoring a corner that blends activism, music, and craft.
Historical Context
Published by Obey Giant in June 2022, Rise Above Barbwire Flower draws on the Black Flag song "Rise Above," reflecting the hardcore-punk influence that has shaped Fairey's outlook since his youth, and pairs it with his recurring floral and justice symbolism. Produced as a letterpress edition in two colorways with a Verisart certificate and the Obey chop, it reflects the studio's authentication and variant practices of the period. Within his arc, it sits among his 2020-2023 justice-themed releases, distinguished by its punk reference and letterpress craft.
FAQ
What does the imagery symbolize?
The print shows flowers growing from barbwire. Fairey says this symbolizes positive growth out of an oppressive situation, expressing hope and perseverance over fear and anger, in line with rising above injustice.
What is the connection to Black Flag?
Fairey states the print is inspired by the Black Flag song "Rise Above," as well as the philosophy of rising above pettiness to fight injustice no matter how difficult things become, reflecting the punk influence in his work.
What are the medium, size, and edition?
It is a 10 x 13 inch letterpress print on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges, signed by Shepard Fairey, in a numbered edition of 250. Published by Obey Giant in 2022, the Red colorway sold for $65.
Does it come with authentication?
Yes. The print comes with a digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart and carries the Obey publishing chop in the lower left corner. It was released in Blue and Red colorways, with matching numbered sets also offered.
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.