Artwork Description
Downward Trajectory Hand-Pulled 4-Color Silkscreen Print on Cream Speckletone Fine Art Paper by Artist Shepard Fairey Limited Edition Pop Art Artwork.
2019 Signed & Numbered Limited Edition of 500 Artwork Size 24x24
“Downward Trajectory is one of the many new works featured in my 30th-anniversary show in Los Angeles, “Facing the Giant: Three Decades of Dissent and New Works,” -Shepard Fairey
Shepard Fairey Downward Trajectory Silkscreen Print
Downward Trajectory by Shepard Fairey is a 2019 hand-pulled four-color silkscreen print that distills industrial architecture, environmental symbolism, and graphic precision into a powerful example of Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork. The composition features a modernist factory complex with three smokestacks releasing pale emissions into a sharply segmented sky of red, black, teal, and cream. In the foreground, two gas pumps sit beneath a minimal canopy, directly referencing fossil fuel infrastructure. The geometry is clean and deliberate, recalling mid-century industrial poster design while maintaining the confrontational clarity that defines Fairey’s visual identity. Printed on cream speckletone fine art paper, the subtle texture of the surface enhances the bold color blocking and reinforces the handcrafted quality of the silkscreen process.
Environmental Commentary and Graphic Structure
The title Downward Trajectory communicates a clear environmental warning, suggesting decline tied to industrial expansion and energy dependence. The angular divisions in the sky create tension and imbalance, visually reinforcing instability and ecological disruption. The dominant red fields introduce urgency, while the cooler industrial tones emphasize machinery, production, and systemic consumption. Fairey’s use of minimal forms and controlled palette ensures immediate legibility, a hallmark of effective Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork. Rather than relying on dense imagery, he reduces the scene to essential elements, allowing viewers to interpret the relationship between architecture, pollution, and resource extraction without distraction. The oil drop emblem placed in the upper corner functions as a subtle but direct reference to petroleum industry influence.
Shepard Fairey Background and Edition Details
Shepard Fairey’s real name is Frank Shepard Fairey. He was born in 1970 in the United States and remains active. Emerging from early street sticker campaigns and evolving into a globally recognized figure in contemporary urban art, he has consistently addressed themes of authority, corporate power, and environmental responsibility. Downward Trajectory continues that trajectory of socially engaged printmaking. This 24 by 24 inch silkscreen print is signed and numbered in a limited edition of 500. The four-color hand-pulled process demands precise registration and layering, ensuring sharp edges and consistent saturation throughout the edition. As a work of Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork, Downward Trajectory merges disciplined design with pointed ecological critique, making it a compelling addition for collectors who prioritize concept-driven contemporary printmaking.
