Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Pattern Of Denial”?
Artist Statement
The Pattern of Denial print is an examination of image versus reality. The image is inspired by the sleek and idealized mid-century architecture of both deluxe homes and deluxe factories from which the power and products for these homes is generated. Endless power from fossil fuels was a naive driver of the American dream for several decades, but we know better now that there are environmental consequences to powering our deluxe lifestyles with fossil fuels. No matter how slick and seductive the packaging may be, fossil fuel corporations know that they are wrecking the planet… they know from their own internal scientific research, which they hid while telling the public "everything is fine and beautiful here." Don't be deceived or sedated… and vote with your conscience, not your lifestyle aspirations, because future generations lives depend on it! Without action, every hollow noise we make is our swan song. A portion of proceeds from this print will benefit Greenpeace USA to support their efforts to fight climate change. Thanks for caring! –Shepard Pattern of Denial. 18 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. $65.
Summary
Pattern Of Denial is a 2023 screen print, 18 x 24 inches, printed on thick cream Speckletone paper in a signed, numbered edition of 550 published by Obey Giant. The image draws on sleek, idealized mid-century architecture of deluxe homes and the factories that power them, using that polished aesthetic to interrogate image versus reality. Fairey's stated subject is fossil-fuel dependence as a seductive but destructive driver of the American dream, and the print urges viewers to vote with their conscience rather than lifestyle aspirations. A portion of proceeds benefits Greenpeace USA. The work pairs Fairey's familiar graphic design with an environmental and political message about climate consequences.
Why It Matters
Pattern Of Denial sits at the intersection of Fairey's environmental activism and his long-running critique of corporate messaging. Rather than depicting obvious pollution, it borrows the slick, aspirational look of mid-century design to make a point about how attractive packaging can conceal harm, a strategy that aligns with Fairey's career-long interest in propaganda and persuasion. The description frames fossil-fuel corporations as knowingly downplaying environmental damage from their own research, giving the print a pointed corporate-critique edge alongside its climate theme. For collectors, it is a clear example of how Fairey fuses visual seduction with social warning. The stated tie to Greenpeace USA and the explicit call to vote with conscience connect the piece to civic engagement and democracy, broadening its appeal beyond a single-issue environmental print. Its 2023 date places it in Fairey's mature activist output, and the edition of 550 at an accessible $65 release price makes it an approachable entry point for people drawn to his message-driven work. The combination of measured edition size, charitable association, and a layered conceptual hook gives it staying power as a representative environmental statement within his catalog.
Collector Perspective
This print appeals to collectors who value Fairey's environmental and political voice as much as his graphic style. Buyers drawn to climate-themed and corporate-critique work will find it a strong fit, especially those building a thematic group around his fossil-fuel and democracy prints. Visually, the polished mid-century architecture and Fairey's clean graphic treatment make it display-friendly in modern interiors while still carrying a pointed message. At an accessible release price and a moderate edition of 550, it suits both newer collectors and those rounding out an environmental sub-collection. It pairs naturally with companion works like Wetland Powers and other oil and climate pieces, making it a coherent addition to a focused display.
Historical Context
Pattern Of Denial belongs to Fairey's later environmental activism, a strand he has developed steadily alongside his earlier OBEY and political poster work. By 2023 his practice routinely ties prints to causes, here Greenpeace USA, reflecting a mature phase in which fundraising and message delivery are central to his releases. The print's use of seductive mid-century imagery to critique fossil-fuel marketing extends his long fascination with how propaganda and advertising shape perception, a thread running from his early street work into his contemporary studio editions. Released the same season as related environmental prints such as Wetland Powers, it forms part of a focused 2023 cluster addressing climate, corporate accountability, and voting. It exemplifies how Fairey, in this period, channels his graphic vocabulary toward urgent environmental and civic messaging rather than pure iconography.
FAQ
What is the edition size of Pattern Of Denial?
Pattern Of Denial is a signed, numbered screen print in an edition of 550, published by Obey Giant in 2023. Each print is signed by Shepard Fairey and comes with a Digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart.
What is the print about?
The print examines image versus reality, using sleek mid-century architecture of deluxe homes and factories to critique fossil-fuel dependence. Fairey argues that polished packaging hides environmental harm and urges viewers to vote with their conscience rather than lifestyle aspirations.
What are the dimensions and materials?
Pattern Of Denial measures 18 x 24 inches and is a screen print on thick cream Speckletone paper. It is signed by Shepard Fairey and numbered within the edition of 550.
Does this print support a cause?
Yes. According to the source, a portion of proceeds from this print benefits Greenpeace USA to support its efforts to fight climate change.
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.