Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Rise Above Rose Geometric”?
Artist Statement
Rise Above Rose Geometric. 12 x 24 inches. Screen print on thick cream Speckletone paper. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 550. Comes with a Digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart. $40.
Summary
Rise Above Rose Geometric is a 2022 Shepard Fairey screen print published by Obey Giant, measuring 12 x 24 inches on thick cream Speckletone paper. It pairs Fairey's recurring rose motif with a geometric, decorative treatment, blending floral symbolism with his signature graphic patterning. The work is signed by Fairey and issued in a numbered edition of 550, accompanied by a Digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart. The vertical format and ornamental rose composition place it within Fairey's ongoing floral and pattern-based prints, where natural forms are rendered in his bold, poster-derived visual language.
Why It Matters
This print sits at the intersection of two threads that recur across Fairey's catalog: the rose as a symbol of beauty and positive growth, and his interest in decorative, geometric patterning that softens the confrontational edge of his more overtly political work. Within the source description, the print is framed simply by its production facts, but its title invokes Fairey's long-running 'Rise Above' concept, a phrase he has used to signal resilience and defiance. For collectors, the appeal lies in how the rose motif and geometric structure combine accessible, decorative beauty with the visual DNA of his propaganda-style prints. At a modest original price point of $40 and a mid-sized edition of 550, it represents an approachable entry into Fairey's floral output. The piece complements his broader body of nature-themed work, where flowers function as universally relatable symbols that balance harder messaging. Its first-edition status, hand-signing, numbering, and Verisart certificate align it with the standard collecting framework Fairey applies to his Obey Giant screen prints, making it a recognizable and gallery-ready example of his pattern-and-floral direction in the early 2020s.
Collector Perspective
This print suits collectors drawn to Fairey's decorative and floral output rather than his most overtly political pieces. The rose-and-geometric composition reads as approachable wall art, making it a strong fit for buyers who want a recognizable Fairey aesthetic that works in residential or design-forward interiors. The 12 x 24 inch vertical format is easy to frame and pairs naturally with other floral and pattern prints in a grouping. At its original $40 price and an edition of 550, it served as an accessible entry point for newer collectors building a Fairey set. The signature, numbering, and Verisart Digital Certificate of Authenticity provide the documentation many collectors expect. It fits well alongside other rose, lotus, and floral-takeover works in a thematic collection.
Historical Context
Rise Above Rose Geometric belongs to Fairey's early-2020s run of Obey Giant screen prints in which floral motifs and round or geometric compositions became a consistent throughline. The 'Rise Above' phrase has roots in Fairey's earlier OBEY visual vocabulary and his interest in resilience messaging, while the rose recurs across his catalog as a symbol of beauty and growth. By 2022 Fairey was regularly issuing mid-sized signed editions on Speckletone paper with Verisart certificates, a mature production model reflected here. The print's pairing of decorative pattern with a natural motif aligns it with companion works from the same period exploring lotus, geometric, and floral-takeover themes, situating it within his contemporary studio practice rather than his street-poster origins.
FAQ
What are the dimensions and medium of Rise Above Rose Geometric?
It is a screen print measuring 12 x 24 inches, printed on thick cream Speckletone paper. The work was published by Obey Giant in 2022 as a vertical-format floral composition combining Fairey's rose motif with a geometric, decorative treatment.
How large is the edition and is it signed?
Rise Above Rose Geometric was issued in a numbered first edition of 550. Each print is signed by Shepard Fairey and comes with a Digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart, the standard documentation for his Obey Giant screen prints.
What was the original release price?
The print was released in 2022 at an original price of $40, making it one of the more accessible entry points among Fairey's signed floral screen prints from that period.
What theme does this print explore?
It centers on Fairey's recurring rose motif, a symbol of beauty and growth in his work, rendered with a geometric, decorative patterning. The piece reflects his ongoing interest in floral imagery and ornamental composition within his graphic, poster-derived style.
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.