Artist Statement
“The "They Live We Sleep" letterpress is inspired by several things. My original interest in skulls came from their recurrent presence in skateboard and punk rock iconography of the 80s. Especially the Powell Peralta "Bones Ripper" illustrated by Vernon Courtlandt Johnson. I was also a big fan of Lance Mountain's and Ric Clayton's skull drawings for Suicidal Tendencies. Skulls were also a prominent part of the alien ghoul characters in the movie "They Live," which inspired my use of the word OBEY in my art. Graffiti on a wall in the movie "They Live" said "They Live We Sleep". That graffiti ba
About This Print
They Live We Sleep (Cream) is a 2025 letterpress print by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant. It measures 10 x 13 inches on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges, signed by Fairey in a numbered edition of 200, issued at $65, with an Obey publishing chop in the lower left corner and a Verisart digital Certificate of Authenticity. Offered in Black and Cream, the image centers on a skull drawn from skateboard and punk iconography and from the film 'They Live,' whose graffiti 'They Live We Sleep' inspired Fairey's use of OBEY. He adds an oil derrick in the skull's forehead to spotlight climate change and environmental peril.
Market Context
Estimated market value: 157.99. Observed range 111.01–800.0. Latest recorded sale: 2025-12-25. Value is the median of recorded public sales (>= $100); low-high shows the observed sale range.