Artwork Description
Factory Stacks- Earth First 6-Color Hand-Pulled Limited Edition Silkscreen Print on Fine Speckletone Art Paper by Shepard Fairey Rare Street Art OBEY Pop Artwork Artist.
2022 Signed by Shepard Fairey Numbered 18x24 inches. Screenprint on thick cream Speckletone paper. Numbered edition of 350.
"These “Factory Stacks” images combine the austere, angular power of factory architecture with graphic elements commenting on what we promote and embrace as a society even when those things are destructive. The fossil fuel industries have tremendous power economically, but we now know that not only are fossil fuel sources finite but that using them is terrible for climate change and, therefore, the eco-systems that sustain life on our planet. Unfortunately, due to the political power of these industries and public apathy about climate change, the government subsidizes the fossil fuel industries for billions even as they damage the environment. The government works for the citizens, so the choice is ours. Do we support endless power for wealthy fossil fuel corporations? Or policies that put the earth first with the planet before profits? Please read Naomi Klein’s THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING to better understand the conflict between economic interests and climate change. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this print will go to Greenpeace to fight climate change. Thanks for caring.” – Shepard
Factory Stacks – Earth First Silkscreen Print by Shepard Fairey
Factory Stacks – Earth First is a powerful 6-color hand-pulled silkscreen print created in 2022 by renowned American artist Shepard Fairey. Measuring 18x24 inches and printed on thick cream Speckletone fine art paper, this signed and numbered limited edition of 350 pieces fuses the political energy of graffiti with the precision and control of modern screenprint design. The work is part of Fairey’s continued focus on environmental activism through art and contributes to the broader conversation around the role of industry, power, and public accountability in climate policy.
Industrial Might as Graphic Metaphor
The print features a factory with twin smokestacks emitting bold trails of smoke against a fragmented and stylized backdrop of red, yellow, and blue—colors associated with urgency, fire, and warning. The building looms large, rendered with clean vector lines and high-contrast forms, while geometric elements and cultural motifs hover in the background, including currency iconography, flames, and architectural symbolism. The stark visual contrast between the rigid industrial structures and the organic chaos of smoke and fire underscores the clash between mechanized progress and ecological fragility. This image serves as a critique of global dependence on fossil fuels and the prioritization of profit over environmental sustainability. Shepard Fairey is known for embedding meaning within tightly structured visuals, and here he uses the monumental scale of the smokestacks as a metaphor for entrenched systems of power. The print’s backdrop includes references to government currency and propaganda textures, further emphasizing the complicity of institutional economics in environmental destruction.
Screenprinting as Political Craft
Fairey’s technical skill in hand-pulled silkscreening is evident in the crisp linework, bold palette, and balanced layering of texture and flat color. The artwork’s speckletone paper enhances the handmade quality of the piece, giving it the presence of a protest poster while retaining the refinement of collectible street pop art. The 6-color process allows for vibrant layering and nuanced interplay of light and form, with the red and black palette lending a sense of urgency and confrontation. By combining the visual language of commercial design with fine art methods, Fairey continues his legacy of making politically charged works that are accessible, reproducible, and grounded in visual activism. This piece fits into his broader OBEY aesthetic, which draws from punk, graffiti, and socialist propaganda to awaken public dialogue.
Art as Environmental Statement
Factory Stacks – Earth First is not merely a visual statement; it is a functional activist tool. A portion of the proceeds from this edition was pledged to Greenpeace, supporting global campaigns to combat climate change. Fairey encourages viewers to reflect on systemic inertia, corporate greed, and the governmental failure to transition away from environmentally destructive practices. His recommendation of Naomi Klein’s book “This Changes Everything” provides further intellectual grounding for the print’s message, aligning the work with contemporary thought leaders in environmental justice. This silkscreen print exemplifies the power of Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork as both a form of protest and a call to action. By merging aesthetics with advocacy, Shepard Fairey transforms industrial imagery into a demand for ecological responsibility and human accountability.
