They Live We Sleep (Black)

Work Summary & Collector Notes

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 basically summed up the premise of the film… that the powerful get away with nefarious acts and manipulation because we are not conscious enough of what is really going on. In the case of this letterpress print, I’ve pulled from all of those influences and added an oil derrick in the forehead of this particular skull to focus on the (in my opinion) greatest threat to our health and the planet’s health. Regardless of what corporations and science deniers say, those of us with a conscience can’t sleep on climate change and environmental peril! Thanks for caring! DETAILS: They Live We Sleep (Black). 10 x 13 inches. Letterpress on classic crest epic black 165# paper with hand-deckled edges. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 200. Obey publishing chop in lower left corner. Comes with a Digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart. $65.

Collector notes: Edition of 200; saved release record states an edition size of 200. Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet groups this work under Environment and climate for discovery; that category is a navigation aid, not an authentication conclusion.

Documented Release Details

Object type

Editioned print or object

Release date

2025

Release-date note

Catalog-listed release year/date from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.

Medium and materials

Letterpress.

Edition details

Edition of 200; saved release record states an edition size of 200.

Signature and marks

Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering 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: Fairey's practice combines propaganda-style imagery, political and countercultural themes, and a recurring OBEY vocabulary. Subject-specific intent is not assumed here unless the release record states it. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.

Release context: The saved catalog lists 2025 and attributes the edition to Obey Giant.

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 Obey Giant. 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Shepard Fairey — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
4. Shepard Fairey (Q1142847) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.