Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Earth Preservation”?
Artist Statement
Today is Earth Day, but like I've said before, every day should be Earth Day. We are part of nature, not above it, and when we don't treat our home well, it will eventually not treat us well. We (powerful corporations especially) are behaving like the earth is indestructible… which it isn't! Hopefully, you don't need to be a "nature" person to understand that this planet is the one we humans and all other species have to live on. We don't need to behave like greedy, short-sighted pigs, and we certainly shouldn't let our corporations behave that way at our expense and their profit. This "Earth Preservation" print addresses the major culprit in putting profits before the health of the planet and its inhabitants… the oil and gas industries. The power of the oil lobby comes from their deep pockets and huge profits, which are often subsidized by us, the taxpayers, who will also be paying to clean up the environmental damage of extracting and burning oil and gas. Yes, we need energy from oil as we transition to more renewables and electric vehicle infrastructure, but the point is that the investment in evolving needs to be made in order to loosen the toxic stranglehold the oil and gas industries have. The future is worth investing in and fighting for. Don't let them make a killing! A portion of proceeds from this print will benefit Greenpeace's work to combat environmental destruction. Please support them if you are capable! -Shepard PRINT DETAILS: Earth Preservation. 18 x 24 inches. Screen print on 80# cream Speckletone paper. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 550. Comes with a Digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart. $60.
Summary
Earth Preservation is a 2025 Obey Giant screen print, 18 x 24 inches on 80# cream Speckletone paper, in a numbered edition of 550. Released around Earth Day, the print is an environmental message piece that directly targets the oil and gas industries as the major culprit in prioritizing profit over the health of the planet. Fairey frames humanity as part of nature rather than above it and calls for investment in renewables and electric-vehicle infrastructure. A portion of proceeds benefits Greenpeace's environmental work. The print is signed by Shepard Fairey and comes with a digital Certificate of Authenticity from Verisart. It priced at $60 on release.
Why It Matters
Earth Preservation is one of Fairey's most pointed environmental statements, naming the oil and gas industries specifically rather than offering a general nature appeal. In his accompanying text he argues that corporate "deep pockets and huge profits," often taxpayer-subsidized, drive short-sighted destruction, and he urges investment in renewables and EV infrastructure to loosen what he calls the industry's "toxic stranglehold." That explicit corporate critique distinguishes the work from purely decorative eco imagery and aligns it with Fairey's broader activist practice. The pledge of a portion of proceeds to Greenpeace reinforces the print's function as fundraising and advocacy, not just commentary. For collectors, this combination of a clear cause, a named target, and a charitable tie makes the piece a strong example of Fairey's politically engaged environmental work. It speaks to buyers who want art that carries an argument and supports an organization, and it slots into a recognizable lineage of Fairey prints addressing climate, energy, and corporate accountability.
Collector Perspective
This appeals to collectors focused on Fairey's environmental and activist output, and to buyers drawn to work with an explicit cause and a charitable component, here a portion of proceeds benefiting Greenpeace. The direct critique of the oil and gas industries gives it a sharper political edge than floral or nature-symbol pieces, attracting collectors who value message-driven art. At 18 x 24 inches with a numbered edition of 550, it frames easily and sits within a defined edition. It pairs well in an environmental grouping alongside Fairey's other climate and energy prints, and the Verisart certificate and artist signature support its collectibility for those who prioritize documented authenticity.
Historical Context
Released in 2025 around Earth Day, Earth Preservation continues Fairey's sustained engagement with environmental and anti-corporate themes that runs through much of his later catalog. The work reflects his recurring argument that powerful corporations behave "as if the earth is indestructible," tying climate concern to a critique of profit-driven power. The Greenpeace benefit places it within his long pattern of pairing prints with activist organizations and causes. Positioned in his contemporary period, it joins a cluster of prints addressing energy, biodiversity, and ecological responsibility, demonstrating how Fairey has folded climate advocacy into his propaganda-influenced graphic vocabulary and his model of using editions to fund-raise for movements he supports.
FAQ
What is the message of this print?
Earth Preservation argues that humans are part of nature, not above it, and targets the oil and gas industries as the major culprit in putting profits before the planet's health. Fairey calls for investment in renewables and electric-vehicle infrastructure to reduce reliance on oil and gas.
Does buying it support a cause?
Yes. According to the print details, a portion of proceeds from Earth Preservation benefits Greenpeace's work to combat environmental destruction. Fairey encourages buyers to support the organization directly if they are able.
What are the edition details?
It is a First Edition screen print measuring 18 x 24 inches on 80# cream Speckletone paper, in a numbered edition of 550. It is signed by Shepard Fairey and includes a Digital Certificate of Authenticity from Verisart. It was released in 2025 at $60.
When was it released?
The print was released in 2025 in connection with Earth Day. Fairey notes in his text that "every day should be Earth Day," framing the piece as an ongoing call to environmental responsibility rather than a one-day observance.
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.