Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Peace Fingers (Geometric Offset)”?
Artist Statement
I originally made the "Peace Fingers" image in 2006 as a response to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but I recently updated the art with a new floral pattern and geometric color-blocking. Peace is not the absence of disagreement but the ability to resolve the disagreement without violence. Peace takes more thought, more kindness, more diplomacy, and more creativity, but hey… I'm actually into all of those things. Doctors Without Borders will receive a portion of proceeds from this print to support their efforts in war-torn parts of the world including Gaza and Ukraine. Thanks for caring.? -Shepard Peace Fingers Geometric. 24 x 36 inches. Offset on cream Speckletone paper. Signed by Shepard Fairey. $40.
Summary
Peace Fingers (Geometric Offset) is a 2024 Shepard Fairey offset lithograph, 24 x 36 inches, printed on cream Speckletone paper and signed by Fairey. The image reworks his Peace Fingers motif, a hand making the peace sign, which he originally created in 2006 in response to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. For this version, Fairey updated the art with a new floral pattern and geometric color-blocking. He frames peace not as the absence of disagreement but as the ability to resolve conflict without violence. The Geometric Offset is one of several Peace Fingers colorways released by Obey Giant.
Why It Matters
Peace Fingers is one of Fairey's recurring anti-war emblems, and this Geometric Offset version shows how he keeps a core image alive by re-skinning it with new patterns and color systems for changing moments. The motif's roots in his 2006 response to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars give it a durable anti-war pedigree, while the 2024 update, with its floral and geometric treatment, connects it to his ongoing fusion of decorative pattern and protest message. As an offset lithograph at the released $40 price, it is among the most accessible ways to own a signed Fairey peace image, making it attractive to newer collectors and to those building a focused anti-war or peace grouping. The cause tie-in, with a portion of proceeds going to Doctors Without Borders for work in war-torn regions including Gaza and Ukraine, anchors the abstract peace message in concrete humanitarian relief. Within the broader Peace Fingers family of colorways, the Geometric Offset offers a distinct, pattern-forward look that complements the more austere editions, and it documents Fairey's continued anti-war stance in a year of active global conflict.
Collector Perspective
This print suits collectors focused on Fairey's peace and anti-war imagery and those who appreciate his decorative pattern work. The large 24 x 36 format makes it a strong statement piece for wall display, and the floral, geometric color-blocking gives it broad decorative appeal beyond purely political buyers. As a signed offset lithograph at an accessible price, it is an easy entry point for newer collectors or for completists assembling the various Peace Fingers colorways. It pairs well with other anti-war and peace-dove pieces in a thematic grouping and fits an environmental or peace-leaning wall thanks to its floral elements.
Historical Context
Peace Fingers originates in Fairey's 2006 response to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, placing the underlying image in his mid-2000s anti-war period. This 2024 Geometric Offset reissue reflects his long-standing practice of revisiting signature motifs with new patterns and palettes, a strategy he uses across many emblems. Released in April 2024 with a Doctors Without Borders proceeds tie-in, it belongs to his Modern Activism period, in which cause-linked editions and decorative pattern updates are routine. The work shows Fairey's continued commitment to peace messaging while demonstrating how an image first made for one war can be renewed to address ongoing global conflicts.
FAQ
When was the Peace Fingers image first created?
Fairey originally made the Peace Fingers image in 2006 as a response to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. For this 2024 Geometric Offset he updated the art with a new floral pattern and geometric color-blocking.
What is the medium and size?
It is an offset lithograph on cream Speckletone paper, 24 x 36 inches, signed by Shepard Fairey. The Geometric Offset is one of several Peace Fingers colorways, which also include Black, Red, Gold, and others.
Does this print support a cause?
Yes. According to the source, Doctors Without Borders receives a portion of proceeds to support its efforts in war-torn parts of the world, including Gaza and Ukraine.
How does Fairey define peace in this work?
He describes peace not as the absence of disagreement but as the ability to resolve disagreement without violence, requiring more thought, kindness, diplomacy, and creativity.
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.