Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Angela Davis (Large Format)”?
Artist Statement
ANGELA DAVIS Screen Print 30 x 42 inches Edition of 50 $400
Summary
Angela Davis (Large Format) is a 2005 Shepard Fairey screen print published by Obey Giant in a large-format edition of 50, measuring 30 x 42 inches. Released at an original price of $400, it is a sizable portrait of activist and scholar Angela Davis, rendered in Fairey's high-contrast graphic style with decorative floral elements noted in the source. The work foregrounds a leading figure of the civil-rights and Black liberation movements, combining bold portraiture with ornamental pattern. Its substantial dimensions and small edition place it among Fairey's premium large-format screen prints of the mid-2000s.
Why It Matters
Angela Davis (Large Format) pairs Shepard Fairey's portrait practice with one of the most recognizable figures of the civil-rights and Black liberation movements, giving the print clear historical weight. Davis's iconic status as an activist, scholar, and symbol of resistance makes Fairey's monumental treatment of her especially resonant, and the source's note of floral symbolism adds a decorative counterpoint to the political subject. At 30 x 42 inches in an edition of just 50, the work belongs to the ambitious, higher-priced tier of his catalog, distinct from his broadly available smaller editions. Dated September 2005 alongside Revolution Woman and Zapatista Woman, it is part of a cluster of large-format works centered on women and revolution, reinforcing Fairey's recurring focus on female figures of struggle. For collectors, the combination of a named civil-rights icon, commanding scale, and a small documented edition makes it a significant acquisition. It bridges his portrait and political strands while showcasing the decorative-pattern dimension of his style. Its appeal rests on Davis's enduring significance and the work's scale and limited size, all grounded in the source record.
Collector Perspective
This print appeals to collectors focused on civil-rights iconography and named-figure portraiture, as well as those seeking a large-format statement piece. At 30 x 42 inches, the Angela Davis portrait commands a wall and serves as a focal work rather than a grid filler. The small edition of 50 and higher original price mark it as a serious acquisition for committed collectors. Its subject makes it a natural anchor for a grouping of Fairey's women-and-activism prints, and the floral elements give it added visual richness. Buyers drawn to both political portraiture and the decorative side of Fairey's work will find it a strong dual-appeal piece.
Historical Context
Angela Davis (Large Format) sits within Shepard Fairey's mid-2000s run of large-format, politically driven screen prints. Dated September 2005 alongside Revolution Woman and Zapatista Woman, it forms part of a cohort of 30 x 42 inch, edition-of-50 works centered on women and revolution. Fairey returned to Angela Davis as a subject across his career, and this large-format edition monumentalizes a figure central to civil-rights and Black liberation history. The decorative floral elements noted in the source connect it to the ornamental strand of his practice. Produced before the 2008 Obama "Hope" image, it documents his expansion from street posters into ambitious studio editions celebrating activist icons.
FAQ
Who is depicted in this print?
The print portrays Angela Davis, the activist and scholar central to the civil-rights and Black liberation movements. Fairey monumentalizes her here in a large-format edition, reflecting his recurring engagement with iconic figures of resistance.
What is the edition size and format?
Angela Davis (Large Format) is a 30 x 42 inch screen print published by Obey Giant in 2005 in an edition of 50. The small run and large scale place it among Fairey's more limited, ambitious works rather than his standard 18 x 24 inch editions.
What was the original price?
The source lists an original release price of $400, reflecting the large 30 x 42 inch format and small edition of 50, well above the pricing of Fairey's standard smaller screen prints of the period.
Does the print include decorative elements?
Yes. The source notes floral symbolism as a secondary theme, meaning the portrait is combined with ornamental floral elements, blending Fairey's political portraiture with the decorative side of his graphic style.
Related Works
About the Artist
Shepard Fairey (b. 1970, Charleston, South Carolina) is an American street artist, graphic designer, and activist, and a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. His 1989 “André the Giant Has a Posse” sticker grew into the global OBEY GIANT campaign — an ongoing experiment in propaganda, obedience, and visual culture. He reached worldwide recognition with the 2008 “Hope” portrait of Barack Obama, now held by the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. Across screen prints, stencils, murals, and collage, Fairey channels propaganda aesthetics toward themes of peace, justice, environmentalism, and civil rights. His work is in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Victoria & Albert Museum, and LACMA.