Artwork Description
RFK Robert F Kennedy Silkscreen Print by Shepard Fairey- OBEY Hand-Pulled 2-Color on Speckletone Fine Art Paper Limited Edition Pop Street Art Artwork.
2023 Signed & Numbered Limited Edition of 500 Artwork Size 18x24 Silkscreen Print From Friends of LAHSA
Shepard Fairey – RFK Robert F. Kennedy Silkscreen Print in Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork
Shepard Fairey’s RFK Robert F. Kennedy silkscreen print, released in 2023 as a signed and numbered edition of 500, is a striking example of political portraiture rooted in the traditions of Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork. Hand-pulled in two colors on speckletone fine art paper and sized at 18x24 inches, this piece was created in collaboration with Friends of LAHSA, a civic-focused initiative that aligns with Fairey’s longtime advocacy for social justice and equity. The print features a high-contrast, posterized portrait of Robert F. Kennedy accompanied by one of his most poignant quotes about moral courage and global solidarity. With his bold graphic style and use of iconic political imagery, Fairey reaffirms his place as one of the most influential figures in the evolution of street-inspired art into the contemporary gallery space. This artwork uses visual minimalism to amplify meaning. With only shades of blue and cream across a navy field and a solid red base for the quote, Fairey’s print references both mid-century political posters and wartime propaganda aesthetics. This creates instant recognition and authority, demanding attention much like a wheatpaste on a city wall. The portrait is defiant, hopeful, and idealistic—an image of a leader remembered for empathy and progressive vision. Through Fairey’s lens, Kennedy becomes a timeless symbol of ethical resistance, made relevant again through the voice of street art.
Stylistic Roots in Protest and Public Messaging
Fairey’s visual language has always blended graphic clarity with ideological intensity. Starting with his OBEY Giant campaign in the 1990s and culminating in his globally recognized HOPE poster for Barack Obama, Shepard Fairey has developed a formula that uses limited color palettes, bold typography, and photorealistic stenciling to produce maximum impact. This RFK print continues that lineage, with a layout that feels urgent and accessible. It is designed not just to be admired but to be read, shared, and posted. The poster format itself—a key tool in both political propaganda and graffiti wheatpasting—evokes the democratic intent of street art: to communicate complex ideas to everyday people, in everyday spaces. The quote printed beneath Kennedy’s portrait reinforces this intent. It’s not just a tribute; it’s a call to action. The choice of typeface, spacing, and alignment mimics the clear, rallying cadence of protest signs. Fairey does not use ornate or obscure fonts—his typography is strong, clean, and civic-minded. This decision keeps the focus on the message and mirrors graffiti’s utilitarian purpose: to declare something publicly and unapologetically.
Street Pop Art's Voice in Contemporary Civic Dialogue
Shepard Fairey’s influence extends beyond visual culture into the realm of activism. His consistent use of political figures, revolutionary icons, and socially conscious themes links him directly to the foundations of Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork. While many artists have transitioned from street to gallery, Fairey has retained a commitment to public communication. This RFK print, although gallery-sold and printed on premium paper, retains the visual and moral urgency of a mural or sticker drop. The collaboration with Friends of LAHSA (Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority) reinforces this by tethering the work to real-world causes—housing, dignity, and advocacy. Fairey’s portrait of Robert F. Kennedy does more than commemorate a figure from the past—it activates memory as a form of resistance. By resurrecting Kennedy’s image and words within a modern aesthetic framework, Fairey creates an emblem of enduring idealism. It’s a piece meant not only for collectors but for classrooms, city walls, and civic campaigns—any space where art and action converge. In the lineage of Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork, Shepard Fairey’s RFK print stands as both homage and declaration. It reflects the belief that visual culture can still inspire political courage and that the tools of street art—bold graphics, public messaging, and shared authorship—remain powerful instruments of change.
