Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Paint It Black (Hand) (Positive Propaganda Letterpress)”?
Artist Statement
I've made a few Paint it Black themed images and this letterpress print was made especially for my New Clear Power show at AMUSEUM in Munich Unfortunately, the topic remains in need of urgent action! In addition to referencing a great Rolling Stones song, Paint it Black is about oil dictating too much of our energy and foreign policy. Imagine if all the money spent on wars and strategic interests in the Middle East went to developing green energy alternatives. Instead, our government subsidizes the highly profitable oil and gas industries for $40 billion annually because no politician wants the blame for rising gas prices. Newsflash: we are still paying more for gas, whether it's at the pump or through our taxes. The need for gas will remain, but we must invest in sustainable energy alternatives as we transition off the finite supply of fossil fuels that are also terrible for CO2 emissions. Proceeds from this print will go to Greenpeace USA to support its work to enhance environmental protections and combat climate change. A portion of the edition size will be sold on my website this Thursday, 2/16. Thanks for caring. –Shepard PRINT DETAILS: Paint it Black Letterpress (Positive-Propaganda Edition). 12 x 16 inches. Letterpress on white cotton paper with hand-deckled edges. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 275. Comes with a Digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart. $95.
Summary
Paint It Black (Hand) (Positive Propaganda Letterpress) is a 2023 letterpress print published by Obey Giant, made especially for Fairey's New Clear Power show at AMUSEUM in Munich. Printed on white cotton paper with hand-deckled edges at 12 x 16 inches, it is signed by Shepard Fairey, numbered in an edition of 275, and comes with a Verisart Digital Certificate of Authenticity. Referencing the Rolling Stones song, the work addresses oil's outsized influence over energy and foreign policy and the need to transition to sustainable energy. Proceeds go to Greenpeace USA. Released February 16, 2023, at an original price of $95.
Why It Matters
Paint It Black (Hand) connects a classic Rolling Stones reference to a pointed environmental and political argument about fossil-fuel dependence. Fairey frames the title around oil dictating too much of energy and foreign policy, arguing that money spent on wars and strategic interests in the Middle East could fund green-energy alternatives, and citing that the government subsidizes the oil and gas industries by $40 billion annually. His punchline, that consumers pay more for gas either at the pump or through taxes, sharpens the critique. Made specifically for his New Clear Power show at AMUSEUM in Munich, the print is tied to a documented international exhibition, linking it to the broader New Clear Power body of work. As a letterpress on white cotton paper with hand-deckled edges in an edition of 275, it offers a tactile, craft-forward format distinct from his screen prints, and its part of the edition was sold via his website. Proceeds supporting Greenpeace USA give it a concrete environmental-advocacy dimension, reinforcing its standing as a cause-driven release.
Collector Perspective
This letterpress appeals to collectors who appreciate Fairey's environmental activism and the craft quality of letterpress on cotton paper with hand-deckled edges. Its tie to the New Clear Power show at AMUSEUM in Munich gives it documented exhibition context valued by collectors who track his international shows. The edition of 275 and $95 original price made it attainable, and at 12 x 16 inches it is well-suited to intimate display and groupings. The Greenpeace USA tie and Rolling Stones reference broaden its appeal across music and environmental audiences. It pairs naturally with New Clear Power and Fairey's other energy and fossil-fuel critiques, and the Verisart certificate documents provenance.
Historical Context
Paint It Black (Hand) belongs to Fairey's early-2020s environmental phase and is directly tied to his New Clear Power show at AMUSEUM in Munich, situating it within his international exhibition activity. It continues his recurring Paint It Black theme, of which he says he has made a few images, applying the Rolling Stones reference to a critique of oil's grip on energy and foreign policy. The Positive Propaganda Letterpress format, printed on white cotton paper with hand-deckled edges, reflects his use of varied print techniques beyond screen printing. The partnership channeling proceeds to Greenpeace USA exemplifies his practice of pairing editioned art with environmental fundraising, placing this work among his cause-driven releases of the period.
FAQ
What does Paint It Black address?
Beyond referencing the Rolling Stones song, the print is about oil dictating too much of our energy and foreign policy. Fairey argues for investing in sustainable energy alternatives, noting that money spent on wars and Middle East strategic interests could instead develop green energy.
What was this print made for?
Fairey states the letterpress was made especially for his New Clear Power show at AMUSEUM in Munich. A portion of the edition was sold on his website on Thursday, February 16, 2023.
Does it support a charity?
Yes. According to the source, proceeds from this print go to Greenpeace USA to support its work to enhance environmental protections and combat climate change.
What are the print specifications?
It is a letterpress on white cotton paper with hand-deckled edges measuring 12 x 16 inches. It is signed by Shepard Fairey, numbered in an edition of 275, published by Obey Giant in 2023 at an original price of $95, and comes with a Verisart Digital Certificate of Authenticity.
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.