I. Introduction – The Artist Exposed

In 2017, Shepard Fairey opened Damaged, a sprawling LA exhibition held in a 20,000 sq ft warehouse. It was his most comprehensive statement to date—a reflection of America's fractured psyche and his own artistic contradictions. At the core of the show was the Damaged Stencil Series—eight prints pulled directly from Fairey's process files, printed on offset stock, and sold as a complete portfolio.

These were not polished propaganda posters. These were blueprints. Residue. X-rays. And by releasing them, Fairey laid bare the construction of dissent.

This segment analyzes the first four stencil prints in depth: Natural Springs, Target Exceptions, Control Panel, and High Profit. Each is studied for visual content, symbolism, and market dynamics. Segment 2 will complete the series and map collector movement.

II. About the Portfolio

• Title: Damaged Stencil Series
• Year Released: 2017
• Total Prints: 8 (sold only as set)
• Edition Size: 400
• Dimensions: 18×24" each
• Technique: Offset lithograph on cream Speckletone
• Signed/Numbered: Yes, each individually

Original price: $160 total. Current resale: $1,200–$1,800 for matched sets.
Individual prints are rarely broken from portfolios unless damaged.

III. Stencil Print 1: Natural Springs

A skeletal hand grips a plastic bottle labeled "Natural Springs," but instead of water, black oil and dollar signs pour out. Palm trees and a dead fish complete the scene.

Symbolism:

• Clean water as a corporate lie
• Ecological death masked as refreshment

Design Notes:

• Simplified form, raw stenciling edges visible
• Halftone dots enhance industrial label feel

Est. Value (2025): $425–$550 (individual)
Availability: Available as part of matched set or isolated with full documentation

IV. Stencil Print 2: Target Exceptions

A human figure stands inside a bulls-eye, while others cluster just outside the rings. An arrow labeled "You" points at the vulnerable center.

Interpretation:

• The illusion of safety in a violent system
• Design inspired by police training targets and refugee maps

Market Notes:

• Frequently highlighted in curatorial essays about systemic bias
• APs occasionally surface with silver backing ink

Est. Value (2025): $400–$525
Availability: Multiple copies in inventory

V. Stencil Print 3: Control Panel

An array of levers, knobs, and blinking red lights form a vintage control room. But closer inspection reveals absurd labels: "Truth Filter," "Consent Override," "Obey Loop."

Design Commentary:

• Inspired by NASA-era interfaces, Cold War aesthetics
• Font choices mirror 1970s industrial typography

Symbolism:

• Government as machine, citizens as input
• Illusion of control versus real manipulation

Collector Insight:

• Studio staff have cited this as Fairey's favorite in the set
• Strongest appeal to tech-forward collectors

Est. Value (2025): $475–$600
Availability: Available with optional custom framing

VI. Stencil Print 4: High Profit

A bar graph climbs upward, but each ascending bar is made from bombs, bullets, and oil barrels. A dollar sign sits in the corner like a trademark.

Interpretation:

• War and fossil fuels = profit engine
• Corporate accountability through minimalist design

Visual Echoes:

• Style echoes Russian Constructivist data posters
• Textural grain added for faux-damage authenticity

Collector Note:

Commonly displayed alongside Natural Springs as a diptych

Est. Value (2025): $450–$625
Availability: Matched set variant preferred

VII. Collecting Damaged – Why This Series Matters

Fairey called Damaged "a confession booth."

• These prints are raw, process-based, and emotionally stripped
• They speak to the construction of power, not just its consequence

This series resonates with:

• Design school educators
• Political curators
• First-time Fairey collectors seeking affordability with message density

Segment 2 will cover the final four prints: Wrong Path, Consumer Control, Pattern of Deceit, and Data Mining. It will also include a complete valuation chart and framing setups.

All works are available for acquisition. Inquire for matched set pricing, AP availability, and signed exhibition copies.

© 2025. Segment 1 complete. Damaged portfolio analysis in progress.