Shepard Fairey Natural Springs 2017 Signed 140/400 DAMAGED Stencil OBEY 18x24

Shepard Fairey – Natural Springs (2017)

Original DAMAGED Stencil Series | Hand-Signed & Numbered 140/400 | Limited Edition Offset Lithograph | 18" × 24"

Art, Environmental Activism & the Power of Visual Protest

Offered is Natural Springs (2017), an original hand-signed and numbered limited-edition print by internationally acclaimed contemporary artist Shepard Fairey, creator of OBEY Giant.

This particular example is numbered 140 from a worldwide edition of just 400 and belongs to Fairey's celebrated DAMAGED Stencil Series, released in December 2017 in conjunction with his ambitious DAMAGED exhibition in Los Angeles.

Combining striking portraiture, environmental symbolism, and Fairey's distinctive distressed stencil aesthetic, Natural Springs examines the complicated relationship between humanity, nature, industrial development, and corporate influence.

An exceptional crossover collectible for Shepard Fairey enthusiasts, contemporary street-art collectors, environmental art supporters, and interior design buyers seeking artwork with substance, history, and visual impact.

The Artwork: Nature, Industry & the Illusion of Purity

At the center of Natural Springs is a compelling portrait of a woman wearing a headscarf, her direct gaze creating an immediate connection with the viewer.

She holds a lotus-like flower from which dark liquid appears to drip, introducing a striking visual contradiction between an object traditionally associated with purity and the suggestion of environmental contamination.

An oil derrick motif and layered industrial references reinforce the tension between the natural world and the machinery of modern economic development.

The composition brings together several recurring elements of Fairey's artistic vocabulary:

• The female portrait: A powerful human presence that gives the composition emotional immediacy.

• The lotus flower: An enduring symbol of purity, resilience, renewal, and beauty.

• Dark dripping liquid: A visual suggestion of pollution, extraction, and environmental degradation.

• Industrial imagery: References to the economic machinery and infrastructure that shape our relationship with the environment.

• Distressed stencil textures: Weathered surfaces, irregular edges, and layered graphic fragments that recall street installations and handmade protest posters.

• OBEY iconography: The distinctive visual identity associated with Fairey's broader artistic practice.

The artwork operates on several levels. It is a compelling portrait, an exploration of industrial society, and an invitation to reconsider the environmental consequences of contemporary consumption.

Its meaning is not delivered through a single slogan. Instead, Fairey allows the tension between beauty and destruction to emerge through carefully selected symbols.

The DAMAGED Stencil Series: An Important 2017 Release

Natural Springs is one of eight artworks comprising Shepard Fairey's DAMAGED Stencil Series, originally released on December 12, 2017.

The series was created during a particularly significant period in Fairey's career, when his work increasingly addressed environmental concerns, political polarization, social inequality, corporate power, and the consequences of contemporary industrial society.

The broader DAMAGED exhibition was presented in Los Angeles in 2017 and represented one of Fairey's most ambitious exhibitions at that point in his career.

Through its title, DAMAGED acknowledged the problems facing modern society while emphasizing the importance of recognizing those problems as a first step toward meaningful change.

Originally Available Only as a Complete Set

One especially interesting aspect of the DAMAGED Stencil Series is its original distribution.

All eight prints were sold together as a complete portfolio rather than offered individually by OBEY Giant.

Consequently, collectors seeking Natural Springs as an individual print must now look to examples separated from those original portfolios.

This makes the work especially relevant for collectors assembling the eight-print series, replacing a missing piece, or building a focused collection of Fairey's environmental and socially engaged artwork.

Each artwork in the series was issued in a hand-signed, numbered edition of 400.

This example is 140/400.

The Distressed Stencil Aesthetic

Unlike Fairey's more colorful screen prints, the DAMAGED Stencil Series adopts a restrained, monochromatic visual language.

Black ink contrasts dramatically with the warm cream of the paper, producing an appearance reminiscent of vintage woodcuts, protest graphics, weathered wheatpaste posters, and early underground publishing.

The intentionally distressed imagery is fundamental to the artwork's character.

Irregular textures, faded areas, rough graphic transitions, and weathered stencil effects evoke imagery that might have survived years on an urban wall.

These effects are part of the printed composition rather than necessarily indicating physical deterioration.

The approach also creates a strong connection to Fairey's artistic origins in skateboarding, punk culture, street installations, and guerrilla-style graphic communication.

For collectors familiar with his bold red, black, and cream OBEY imagery, Natural Springs offers a different yet immediately recognizable expression of his artistic identity.

A Sophisticated Statement Piece for Contemporary Interiors

Beyond its historical and thematic significance, Natural Springs is exceptionally versatile as an interior-design artwork.

The restrained black-and-cream palette allows the print to complement numerous decorative styles while maintaining a commanding visual presence.

Minimalist & Scandinavian Interiors

Set against a clean white wall, the artwork's intricate stencil textures offer visual complexity without introducing excessive color.

Natural oak, cream upholstery, textured fabrics, and neutral ceramics complement its understated palette.

Modern Luxury Living Rooms

A slim black frame provides a crisp architectural finish, allowing the print to become an elegant focal point above a console, sofa, or lounge chair.

Black accent pillows, warm ivory textiles, and brass accessories create a coordinated environment inspired by the artwork.

Industrial Lofts & Contemporary Condominiums

The distressed composition naturally complements exposed concrete, aged brick, black metal fixtures, leather furniture, and reclaimed wood.

Its connections to urban street art create a particularly appropriate visual dialogue with industrial architecture.

Executive Offices & Creative Studios

The print combines striking imagery with important themes involving environmental responsibility, corporate influence, and social awareness.

It makes a thoughtful addition to professional spaces where contemporary art, design, and cultural commentary are appreciated.

Gallery Walls & Curated Art Collections

Natural Springs pairs exceptionally well with other works from the DAMAGED Stencil Series.

Because the eight prints share a consistent format and monochromatic palette, collectors can create coordinated diptychs, triptychs, or larger groupings with strong visual cohesion.

An 18" × 24" original signed artwork offers substantial visual presence while remaining versatile enough for residential and professional settings.

Artwork Specifications

Artist: Shepard Fairey (OBEY Giant)
Title: Natural Springs
Year: 2017
Series: DAMAGED Stencil Series
Medium: Original offset lithograph / offset print
Paper: Cream art paper
Dimensions: 18 × 24 inches (45.7 × 61 cm)
Edition Size: 400
Individual Edition Number: 140/400
Signature: Hand-signed by Shepard Fairey
Publisher: OBEY Giant
Original Release: December 12, 2017
Original Distribution: Available only as part of the complete eight-print DAMAGED Stencil Series
Original Publisher Status: Sold out

About Shepard Fairey

Shepard Fairey is among the most influential contemporary artists to emerge from the international street-art movement.

His career began in 1989 with the Andre the Giant sticker campaign, an underground project that evolved into the internationally recognizable OBEY Giant phenomenon.

Influenced by punk rock, skateboarding, political propaganda, vintage advertising, underground music, and revolutionary graphics, Fairey developed a distinctive aesthetic built around powerful imagery, bold compositions, repeated symbols, and socially engaged messages.

His internationally recognized HOPE portrait of Barack Obama became one of the defining political images of the 2008 presidential election.

Throughout his career, Fairey has used art as a vehicle for raising awareness about social, political, and environmental issues.

His extensive body of work includes public murals, fine-art paintings, limited-edition prints, graphic design, album artwork, and major gallery exhibitions.

Natural Springs reflects his commitment to creating artwork that is both visually engaging and intellectually provocative.

Why Collect Natural Springs?

Several characteristics distinguish this release:

1. Signed & Individually Numbered

An original, hand-signed example numbered 140/400, rather than an unsigned decorative reproduction.

2. Part of a Historically Significant Series

Released in conjunction with Fairey's 2017 DAMAGED exhibition, a major chapter in the artist's exploration of contemporary social and environmental issues.

3. Originally Sold Only as a Complete Portfolio

Individual examples were not offered separately through the original OBEY Giant release.

4. Distinctive Monochromatic Design

The black-and-cream presentation highlights Fairey's graphic precision, layered textures, and stencil-inspired aesthetic.

5. Meaningful Environmental Themes

The artwork addresses ideas surrounding the natural world, industrialization, pollution, and human responsibility.

6. Strong Interior Design Appeal

Its versatile neutral palette works with modern, minimalist, industrial, and gallery-inspired environments.

7. Companion Potential

An excellent addition for collectors assembling the complete eight-print DAMAGED Stencil Series.

Condition, Presentation & Shipping

Please examine the actual artwork photographs carefully, including available images of the signature, individual edition number, paper surface, and margins.

The distressed and weathered textures within the printed composition are intentional elements of Fairey's artistic design.

Actual paper condition should be evaluated separately from these printed effects.

Any room photographs or framed presentations are digital staging mockups intended to illustrate possible framing, scale, and display options.

The artwork will be carefully packaged for shipment using protective fine-art materials.

A Compelling Work for the Contemporary Collector

Shepard Fairey's Natural Springs (2017) combines visual power, environmental commentary, and the unmistakable artistic language of OBEY Giant.

As an individually signed and numbered example from the original DAMAGED Stencil Series, this print offers collectors an opportunity to acquire an important example of Fairey's socially conscious graphic work.

Whether incorporated into an established contemporary art collection, displayed alongside other works from the DAMAGED portfolio, or presented as a striking focal point in a thoughtfully designed interior, Natural Springs offers an engaging balance of artistic substance and decorative sophistication.

Shepard Fairey | Natural Springs | 2017 | Signed 140/400 | DAMAGED Stencil Series | OBEY Giant

Art with meaning. Design with impact. A distinctive addition to any serious contemporary art collection.