Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Shepard Fairey Print Index
WAVE OF DISTRESS (Sepia)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
World Water Day is Monday and is a fitting day to precede the release of these Wave of Distress prints. World Water Day not only focuses attention on the water crisis and drinking water, but it is also a day of reflection to celebrate water. So I wanted to share a new piece of art that I think gives consciousness to water. I’ve done several wave illustrations over the years because I love the power and beauty of waves. The crashing waves and cycle of tides seem endlessly reliable, but ocean health is diminishing in many places. The title Wave of Distress is meant to be a warning. Distress means “suffering in a state of great trouble.” If the oceans are in trouble, then the entire planet will be overcome by a wave of distress. The oceans regulate climate and reduce climate change impacts and provide an important habitat and source of food for many species, including humans. These prints are a reminder to respect and restore the oceans. A percentage of proceeds from these prints will go to Greenpeace to support their efforts to preserve the environment and promote peace. – Shepard PRINT DETAILS: WAVE OF DISTRESS (two colorways: Blue and Sepia). A limited number of matching numbered sets will be available for $110 . Blue and Sepia colorways sold separately for $55 each . 24 x 18 inches. Screen print on thick cream Speckletone paper. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 400 of each colorway. $55. Proceeds go to Greenpeace . Available on Tuesday, March 23rd @ 10 AM PDT at https://store.obeygiant.com/collections/prints . Max order: 1 per customer/household. International customers are responsible for import fees due upon delivery. ALL SALES FINAL.
Collector notes: Edition of 400; saved release record states an edition size of 400. 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
- 2021
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year/date from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- 24 inches by 18 inches.
- Edition details
- Edition of 400; saved release record states an edition size of 400.
- 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 2021 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
- 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.