Artwork Description
Floral Takeover 2017 Cream Red Silkscreen Print by Shepard Fairey- OBEY Hand-Pulled 2-Color on Cream Speckletone Fine Art Paper Limited Edition Artwork Obey Pop Culture Artist.
2017 Signed & Numbered Limited Edition of 200 Artwork Size 18x24 Silkscreen Print
"I'm always creating new patterns for my street installs and fine art pieces. I used to buy discontinued wallpaper, but now I design and print my own. These look nice as stand-alone prints, not just repeat patterns, so I'm releasing a 200-print edition of four versions. Buy a couch to match… coming soon… just kidding!" -Shepard Fairey- OBEY.
Floral Takeover 2017 Cream Red by Shepard Fairey
Floral Takeover 2017 Cream Red is a hand-pulled silkscreen print by Shepard Fairey, released in 2017 as a signed and numbered limited edition of 200. Printed in two colors on cream Speckletone fine art paper, the artwork measures 18 x 24 inches. This version reverses the color balance of the companion print, placing red as the dominant field with cream floral forms layered throughout, creating a more saturated and commanding visual presence.
Ornament as Occupation
While rooted in decorative floral motifs reminiscent of wallpaper and textile design, Floral Takeover functions as more than ornamentation. Fairey uses repetition, scale, and bold contrast to turn pattern into visual force. The dense layering and assertive red ground echo his street practice, where imagery is used to claim space and attention. By presenting a repeat pattern as a standalone artwork, Fairey blurs the line between background design and foreground statement, transforming something traditionally passive into something confrontational and intentional.
Context Within the OBEY Pattern Series
This print is part of a four-version Floral Takeover series developed from patterns originally created for street installations and murals. Over time, these designs evolved into fine art editions that reflect Fairey’s interest in propaganda aesthetics, historical ornament, and visual saturation. The Cream Red variant stands out for its intensity and graphic clarity, offering a bolder counterpoint to the inverse colorway. Together, the series highlights Fairey’s ability to merge design, street art, and fine art into works that are visually elegant while still carrying the unmistakable authority of the OBEY aesthetic.
