Wave of Distress — When the Ocean Becomes a Warning
“Wave of Distress” is Shepard Fairey’s 2021 meditation on ocean health and environmental collapse. Released on World Water Day (March 23, 2021), the print renders a massive wave in sepia tones on Fairey’s signature cream Speckletone paper — but look closer: an American flag is subtly embedded within the wave, its stars and stripes woven into the churning water. A small blue OBEY star sits in the barrel of the wave.
NOTE: there is a small fold in bottom left corner. Please see photos
The message is layered: the flag is being carried — or consumed — by the wave. As Fairey wrote at the release, the title is a deliberate double meaning. “Distress” means suffering in a state of great trouble, and if the oceans are in trouble, then the entire planet will be overcome by a wave of distress. A portion of the original proceeds went to Greenpeace.
⚠ Screen Print vs. Offset — Know the Difference
This is a hand-pulled screen print from an edition of only 400, not the unsigned large-format offset lithograph poster that was also produced. The screen print has richer ink layers, visible texture from the printing process, Fairey’s hand signature in pencil, and commands significantly higher value. The offset poster retails for $30–50; this screen print retailed at $55 and now sells for $250–400+ unframed.
This copy is number 364 of 400, presented in a striking antique gold wooden frame with white outer mat, gold inner fillet, and glass glazing — a framing choice that beautifully complements the warm sepia tones and gives the piece a gallery-quality presentation. Ready to hang.
Specifications
Print & Frame Details
Artist
Shepard Fairey (OBEY Giant)
Title
Wave of Distress (Sepia)
Year
2021
Medium
Screen print on thick cream Speckletone fine art paper
Edition
364 / 400
Signature
Hand-signed by Shepard Fairey in pencil, lower right
Print Size
24″ × 18″ (61 × 46 cm) — landscape orientation
Subject
Massive wave with subtly embedded American flag — environmental warning
Colorways
Sepia (this copy) and Blue — both editions of 400
Released
March 23, 2021 — World Water Day — proceeds to Greenpeace
Very Good — minor age-appropriate patina adds character to antique gold finish
🔍 Condition Transparency
The print is in excellent condition with vibrant ink saturation. There is a minor crease visible in the lower left margin area (see photos). The antique gold frame shows age-appropriate patina consistent with its character. All photos taken under direct lighting to show every detail honestly.
Context
The Artist & the Environmental Message
Shepard Fairey / OBEY Giant
Creator of the iconic Obama “Hope” poster, founder of OBEY Clothing, and one of the most influential street artists alive. His work is held by the Smithsonian, MoMA, LACMA, and the V&A. Fairey has produced several wave-themed prints throughout his career — from “Dark Wave” (2010) to “Pop Wave” (2016) — each using the ocean as metaphor for larger social and environmental forces.
Part of a Broader Wave Series
Wave of Distress was released in two colorways: this Sepia version and a Blue version, each in editions of 400. A limited number of matching-numbered sets were available for $110. The Sepia colorway is arguably more visually striking — the warm cream and dark tones create a vintage, photographic quality that pairs naturally with antique framing. Both variants sold out within minutes.
✓ Authenticity Details
What Confirms This Is Genuine
This is a signed limited edition screen print produced through Shepard Fairey’s OBEY Giant studio. Only 400 were made in this colorway, released at 10 AM PDT on March 23, 2021 through store.obeygiant.com — sold out within minutes.
✎ Signature & Edition Marks
✓ Hand-signed by Shepard Fairey in pencil, lower right — consistent with known exemplars
✓ Edition number “364/400” hand-written in pencil, lower left
✓ Natural pen pressure variation visible in the signature — not printed or stamped
✓ Pencil graphite reflects light at angles visible through glass — confirms hand-applied
🎨 Print Quality & Paper Stock
✓ Screen printed on thick cream Speckletone paper — Fairey’s signature stock with visible flecks
✓ Rich ink saturation with visible screen print texture — not the flat finish of an offset
✓ Blue OBEY star present in the barrel of the wave — standard Fairey studio mark
✓ American flag stars/stripes subtly embedded in the wave face — design-consistent detail
Buyer Education
What to Watch For When Buying Fairey Prints
🔴 Offset Lithographs Sold as Screen Prints
Many Fairey designs are also produced as unsigned offset litho posters. These lack hand-signed signatures, have flatter ink, thinner paper, and no edition numbering. Some sellers misrepresent offsets as screen prints. Always confirm: pencil signature, edition number, and thick Speckletone paper stock.
🔴 Fake or Printed Signatures
Authentic Fairey signatures show natural pen pressure variation and are written in pencil (graphite). Fakes may use printed signatures that look uniform under magnification or felt-tip pen instead of pencil. Tilt the print under light — genuine graphite will reflect differently than printed ink.
Shipping & Policies
Ships Framed & Ready to Hang
★
IncludedSigned screen print 364/400 in antique gold wooden frame with white mat, gold fillet & glass
✉
Ships via UPSCorner-protected, bubble-wrapped, double-boxed — fully insured with tracking
✓
100% AuthenticGuaranteed genuine OBEY Giant studio screen print
↺
Returns AcceptedBuy with confidence
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Originally an art gallery in San Francisco, Gauntlet Gauntlet was built at the intersection of street culture, historic moments, and disciplined collecting. Rooted in the ethos of underground art movements — skate, punk, protest graphics, and independent publishing — we curate pieces that carry both cultural weight and market structure. This time bringing these items to the world after our technical in reinvention.
Our focus spans limited edition fine art, street art pioneers, music and space memorabilia, and historically significant signed works. Every item is selected for scarcity, authenticity, and long-term relevance — not short-term hype.
From museum-collected artists and politically iconic prints to astronaut autographs and era-defining music signatures, Global Gauntlet exists to preserve cultural milestones and help collectors acquire them with confidence.
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Add suggested items to your listings – Check it out on 3Dsellers.com
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Every artist has a story. Every fan has a memory.
This isn’t just a guitar — it’s a bridge between the artist’s world and yours. Each piece in this collection has been subtly customized to reflect the unique aesthetic of the artist it represents — from tonal choices and finish details to design elements that echo their signature style and creative identity.
Whether it’s the raw energy of a punk icon, the soulful elegance of a blues legend, or the bold experimentation of a modern visionary, these guitars capture something words alone can’t — thefeelingof the music that moved you.
What makes this piece special:
🎨Artist-Inspired Customization— Design elements tailored to reflect the artist’s visual and musical identity
✍️Authentic Connection— Each guitar tells a story that resonates with the fans who lived it
🔍Curated with Care— Selected and verified by Gauntlet Gallery, specialists in authenticated music collectibles
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ARTIST HIGHLIGHT
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SHEPARD FAIREY
Few contemporary artists have bridged underground culture and institutional recognition as effectively as Shepard Fairey. Emerging from skate and punk subcultures with the original Obey Giant campaign, he built a visual language rooted in propaganda aesthetics, bold iconography, and political commentary.
What makes Fairey compelling for collectors isn’t just name recognition — it’s durability. His work sits at the intersection of activism, design, and pop culture.
From the globally recognized Hope poster to decades of tightly controlled screenprint editions, he has demonstrated both cultural relevance and disciplined market structure.
Institutional validation from MoMA, the Smithsonian, and the V&A reinforces long-term credibility. Meanwhile, secondary market data shows consistent liquidity and steady appreciation across core prints.
For collectors, this is cultural equity with infrastructure behind it — not trend-driven volatility.
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Additional information
ARTIST
Shepard Fairey
UNIT OF SALE
Single Piece
SIGNED BY
Shepard Fairey
IMAGE ORIENTATION
Portrait
Size
Medium
SIGNED
Yes
PERIOD
Ultra Contemporary (2020 – Now)
MATERIAL
Paper
FRAMING
Unframed
ORIGINAL/LICENSED REPRINT
Licensed Reprint
REGION OF ORIGIN
California, USA
PERSONALIZE
No
TYPE
Print
YEAR OF PRODUCTION
2011
ITEM HEIGHT
18 in
THEME
Art
STYLE
Urban Art
FEATURES
Numbered
PRODUCTION TECHNIQUE
Screen Printing
ITEM WIDTH
24 in
TIME PERIOD PRODUCED
2020-Now
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
United States
MPN
Single Piece Portrait No e1a0e9c9-9e
Condition
New
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