Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Obey / Icons”?
Artist Statement
The OBEY/ICONS print is the show print for my ICONS exhibition which is also a compilation of many significant icons from throughout my career. One of the principles of strong icons is that they will stand out even within a cluttered environment and read legibly when partially obscured. I enjoyed demonstrating those concepts with the individual elements within the composition of the print while aiming for a pleasing rhythm to the piece as a whole. This print was also partially inspired by the first print I ever designed for Subliminal back in 1995. –Shepard OBEY/ICONS. 18 x 24 inches. Screen print on thick cream Speckletone paper. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 400. Comes with a Digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart. $55.
Summary
Obey / Icons is a 2023 screen print, 18 x 24 inches, on thick cream Speckletone paper in a signed, numbered edition of 400 published by Obey Giant. It is the show print for Fairey's ICONS exhibition and compiles many significant icons from throughout his career into a single composition. Fairey notes that strong icons stand out in cluttered environments and remain legible when partially obscured, principles he demonstrates through the individual elements and overall rhythm of the piece. The print was also partially inspired by the first print he designed for Subliminal in 1995. It functions as a career-spanning summary of his OBEY iconography in one graphic arrangement.
Why It Matters
Obey / Icons is a self-reflective summation of Fairey's visual language, gathering many of the icons he has developed across decades into one composition. As the show print for his ICONS exhibition, it doubles as a kind of index to his career, making it especially meaningful for collectors who appreciate the OBEY iconography at the heart of his practice. The description foregrounds Fairey's design philosophy, that strong icons read clearly even when cluttered or partially hidden, and the print becomes a demonstration of that principle, layering recognizable motifs into a deliberately rhythmic whole. Its acknowledged debt to the first print he designed for Subliminal in 1995 ties the work to his early career and the long evolution of his iconography, giving it a documentary dimension. With a relatively contained edition of 400, smaller than several companion releases, it carries added appeal for those who value Fairey's signature imagery in a compendium form. For collectors, Obey / Icons offers a single piece that encapsulates the breadth of his iconographic vocabulary, making it a centerpiece-worthy acquisition for anyone focused on the OBEY brand and Fairey's design legacy.
Collector Perspective
Obey / Icons is a natural centerpiece for collectors focused on OBEY iconography and Fairey's design legacy, since it compiles many career icons into one image. Its role as the ICONS show print adds exhibition provenance that appeals to completist and brand-focused buyers. The edition of 400 is relatively contained, enhancing its draw. Visually dense yet rhythmically composed, it makes a striking display piece and pairs well with other icon-driven works. It fits an OBEY icon sub-collection and complements pieces like the Obey Icon HPM and other iconography prints, making it a strong anchor for a display built around Fairey's signature imagery.
Historical Context
Obey / Icons functions as a career retrospective in a single print, gathering motifs Fairey has built since the start of his OBEY project. Created in 2023 as the show print for his ICONS exhibition, it consolidates his iconographic vocabulary at a mature stage of his career. Its stated inspiration from the first print he designed for Subliminal in 1995 explicitly links the work to his early years, underscoring the continuity of his icon-making across nearly three decades. Within his catalog it stands apart from his issue-driven political and environmental prints, instead celebrating the design principles, legibility, repetition, and standout clarity, that define the OBEY brand and his lasting influence on graphic art.
FAQ
What is Obey / Icons?
Obey / Icons is the show print for Shepard Fairey's ICONS exhibition. It compiles many significant icons from throughout his career into a single composition, demonstrating his belief that strong icons stay legible even when cluttered or partially obscured.
What is the edition size?
The print is a signed, numbered screen print in an edition of 400, published by Obey Giant in 2023, signed by Shepard Fairey and accompanied by a Verisart Digital Certificate of Authenticity.
What inspired this print?
According to Fairey, the print was partially inspired by the first print he ever designed for Subliminal back in 1995, linking the work to the early roots of his iconography.
What are the dimensions and materials?
Obey / Icons measures 18 x 24 inches and is a screen print on thick cream Speckletone paper, signed by Shepard Fairey and numbered within the edition of 400.
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.