Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Shepard Fairey Print Index
Idiocracy (First Edition)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Idiocracy is an 18-by-24-inch screen print by Shepard Fairey, published by Mondo in 2016 and printed by Obey Giant. It was a signed and hand-numbered timed edition available for 72 hours, with the edition number 2016 echoing the release year. The source states that 100% of proceeds went to the League of Women Voters and Young Literati. Built on Fairey's OBEY iconography with a civil-rights-and-justice dimension, the work ties its title and imagery to themes of civic awareness and voting, released as a benefit print during a charged election-year moment.
Collector notes: First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 2016. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet groups this work under OBEY iconography for discovery; that category is a navigation aid, not an authentication conclusion.
Historical Context
In the artist's words / from the release record:
“Idiocracy by Shepard Fairey. 18"x24" Screen Print. Signed & Hand Numbered. Timed-Edition available for 72 Hours. Printed by Obey Giant. 100% of proceeds go to the League of Women Voters & Young Literati.” — Shepard Fairey
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2016-10-10
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year/date from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Series
- Political Series
- Medium and materials
- Screen Print; catalog dimensions 24 x 18 in.
- Edition details
- First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 2016.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: Shepard Fairey's OBEY / Andre the Giant campaign began in 1989 and grew into a long print and public-art practice; this page treats that as career context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition.
Meaning / interpretation: In the artist's or release record's own words: “Idiocracy by Shepard Fairey. 18"x24" Screen Print. Signed & Hand Numbered. Timed-Edition available for 72 Hours. Printed by Obey Giant. 100% of proceeds go to the League of Women Voters & Young Literati.”. This can be read as the documented intent for the work; no additional endorsement is assumed. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2016-10-10 and attributes the edition to Mondo. It is grouped under Political Series in the saved record. The saved record notes an original release price of USD $40.00.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to Mondo. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, date, edition, dimensions, medium, release price, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- About — Shepard Fairey / OBEY GIANT — Obey Giant · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official OBEY GIANT artist biography and career context; it is not an individual-edition record.
- Shepard Fairey — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Shepard Fairey (Q1142847) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.