Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Uplift Justice (Offset Lithograph)”?
Artist Statement
This new "Uplift Justice" offset is based on a mural I painted in Philadelphia last year. It was important to me to create an image in Philly, a city often considered the birthplace of American democracy, that connects the ideals of the past with the questions we face today. Nearly 250 years after the founding of this country, we have an opportunity to ask ourselves what the next 250 years should look like—a continuation of where we're headed, or maybe a reset. I chose a woman as the central figure because I see women as natural peacemakers, builders of family and community—the qualities we need most right now. My hope is that this art invites people to reflect on justice, history, and the values that guide us today and into the future. -Shepard PRINT DETAILS: Uplift Justice Offset. 36" H x 24" W,. Offset on thick cream Speckletone paper. Signed by Shepard Fairey. $35.
Summary
Uplift Justice (Offset Lithograph) is a 2026 offset print by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant, signed by the artist and listed at $35. It measures 36 inches high by 24 inches wide, printed on thick cream Speckletone paper; no edition size is recorded in the source. The image is based on a mural Fairey painted in Philadelphia, a city he calls a birthplace of American democracy, and centers on a woman as a peacemaker and community builder. The print invites reflection on justice, history, and shared values as the country approaches its 250th anniversary. The source notes no edition number.
Why It Matters
Uplift Justice connects civil rights, justice, and democratic reflection through an image rooted in a Philadelphia mural Fairey painted, a city he frames as a birthplace of American democracy. In his statement, he ties the work to the approach of the nation's 250th anniversary, posing the question of whether the next era should continue current trajectories or mark a reset. His choice of a woman as the central figure, described as a natural peacemaker and builder of family and community, places the print within his broader engagement with women, leadership, and justice. As an affordable $35 offset lithograph, it functions as an accessible entry point to Fairey's politically reflective work and as a public-art extension, translating a mural into a collectible image. For collectors, its value lies in this mural-to-print lineage and its timely engagement with American democratic ideals at a charged civic moment. While the source records no edition size, the low price and offset medium suggest a broadly available release. Its significance is as an accessible, message-forward work bridging public muralism and Fairey's ongoing dialogue about justice, history, and the values guiding the country forward.
Collector Perspective
Uplift Justice appeals to collectors interested in Fairey's politically reflective work, his women-as-leaders imagery, and his mural-to-print lineage. At $35 as a signed offset lithograph, it is one of his most accessible releases, ideal for newer collectors and for those assembling a justice- or democracy-themed grouping. The 36 x 24 inch vertical format makes a strong statement piece. Because it derives from a Philadelphia mural, it carries appeal for collectors who value the connection between Fairey's public art and his editions. The signature provides reassurance, though buyers should note the source records no edition number. It fits political and civil-rights focused collections well.
Historical Context
Uplift Justice draws directly from a mural Fairey painted in Philadelphia, exemplifying his long practice of translating public murals into collectible prints. By invoking Philadelphia as a birthplace of American democracy and the country's approaching 250th anniversary, the work situates itself within his ongoing engagement with American civic ideals, justice, and reflection. The central female figure as peacemaker and community builder extends his recurring focus on women and leadership. Within his arc, this 2026 offset belongs to his modern-activism period, where accessible editions and public muralism reinforce one another, continuing the civil-rights and democracy themes that have defined much of his politically engaged output.
FAQ
What is Uplift Justice based on?
Fairey states it is based on a mural he painted in Philadelphia, a city he describes as a birthplace of American democracy, connecting the ideals of the past with the questions the country faces today.
Why is the central figure a woman?
Fairey explains he chose a woman as the central figure because he sees women as natural peacemakers and builders of family and community, qualities he believes are most needed now.
What are the size, medium, and price?
It is an offset lithograph measuring 36 inches high by 24 inches wide on thick cream Speckletone paper, signed by Shepard Fairey and listed at $35. The source does not record an edition size.
Who published Uplift Justice?
It was published by Obey Giant in 2026 as a signed offset lithograph.
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.