Artwork Description
Danger No Smoking AP Artist Proof Silkscreen Print by Shepard Fairey- OBEY Hand-Pulled on Cream Speckletone Fine Art Paper Limited Edition Artwork Obey Pop Culture Artist.
AP Artist Proof 2016 Signed & Marked AP Artwork Size 18x24 Silkscreen Print—vintage Style Lead Fuel Gas Pump with Danger No Smoking Sign.
"This Danger No Smoking print is inspired by a screen print I made in 1990, which was the very first image I made addressing the environmental and health hazards of gasoline. I took this photograph in Providence, RI at the edge of a desolate graveyard, which probably intensified my interpretation of the peeling paint on the gas pump as a skull. I decided the symbolism provided by natural erosion was powerful enough to make the photo worthy of turning into a print. I always liked this image, and I rediscovered it while looking for images to include in a book surveying my entire history of environmentally themed art." -Shepard Fairey- OBEY
Shepard Fairey Unsinkable Consumption AP 2015 Silkscreen Print
Shepard Fairey, born Frank Shepard Fairey in the United States, created Unsinkable Consumption in 2015 as part of his ongoing critique of environmental exploitation and unchecked consumer culture within Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork. This Artist Proof edition is signed and marked AP, distinguishing it from the standard numbered run and identifying it as part of a smaller subset reserved by the artist. The hand-pulled silkscreen measures 18 x 24 inches and is printed on cream Speckletone fine art paper, a textured stock commonly used in Obey editions for its archival durability and vintage character. Fairey has consistently used bold iconography and propaganda inspired composition to address social and political themes, and this work reflects his direct engagement with industrial dependency and ecological consequence.
Oil Symbolism and Industrial Critique in Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork
The composition depicts a large ocean liner sinking into dark waters, visually referencing early twentieth century maritime disaster imagery while replacing the traditional cause with a broader commentary on oil consumption. Above the vessel, a red circular emblem frames a black oil derrick within a droplet shape, reinforcing petroleum as the central motif. The word Consume appears across the top, functioning as both directive and indictment. Fairey’s restrained palette of black, cream, and red heightens the graphic immediacy of the message, echoing historical propaganda posters while maintaining the clarity associated with Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork. The distressed background textures and layered patterning add depth and archival resonance, strengthening the conceptual weight of the scene.
Artist Proof Editions and Environmental Commentary
Artist Proof prints hold special significance in fine art printmaking, often representing early impressions or reserved examples closely tied to the artist’s archive. Within Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork, AP editions reinforce craftsmanship and scarcity while preserving thematic urgency. Unsinkable Consumption demonstrates Fairey’s ability to merge historical visual language with contemporary environmental critique, transforming a familiar maritime silhouette into a symbol of systemic overconsumption. By combining disciplined hand-pulled silkscreen production with potent industrial imagery, this 2015 print stands as a direct and enduring example of how Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork addresses ecological responsibility through bold graphic storytelling.
