Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Godfather - Sonny”?
Artist Statement
GODFATHER – SONNY Screen Print 18 x 24 inches Edition of 500
Summary
Godfather - Sonny is a 2006 Shepard Fairey screen print published by Obey Giant in a first edition of 500, measuring 18 x 24 inches. Part of Fairey's Godfather series drawing on the iconic film, the print portrays the character Sonny Corleone in his bold, high-contrast graphic portrait style with signature decorative framing. Released at an original price of $35 as a standard-format screen print, it belongs to his mid-2000s pop-culture and portrait output through Obey Giant and forms one panel in a coordinated set of character portraits appropriating imagery from one of cinema's most celebrated films.
Why It Matters
Godfather - Sonny is part of Fairey's Godfather series, a focused group of character portraits that exemplifies his strategy of mining celebrated cinema for iconic source material. Rendering Sonny Corleone in his graphic portrait language with ornamental framing, Fairey transforms a beloved film character into a collectible icon, a move central to his pop-culture appropriation work. The source flags both pop culture and portraits and legacy as themes, underscoring the print's dual identity as cinematic homage and character portrait. For collectors, series appeal is significant: Sonny is one of several coordinated panels, and many collectors aim to complete the full set, which sustains demand for each entry. The edition of 500 is moderate for 2006, a year when Fairey was issuing a steady cadence of standard 18 x 24 screen prints through Obey Giant. The Godfather subject carries wide cultural recognition that reaches film enthusiasts beyond dedicated Fairey collectors. As a series entry it documents Fairey's interest in cinematic iconography and his approach of releasing themed groupings. The print rewards collectors drawn to pop-culture appropriation, character portraiture, and the completist appeal of a matched set, while staying accessible at its moderate edition size.
Collector Perspective
This print appeals to collectors of Fairey's pop-culture portraiture and to fans of The Godfather. As one panel in a character series, it carries strong completist appeal, since many collectors seek the full set of Godfather portraits. The standard 18 x 24 inch size frames easily and is especially effective displayed alongside the other character panels as a coordinated grouping. The moderate edition of 500 keeps it accessible while remaining a contained release. Buyers who collect by film theme, who value Fairey's graphic portrait treatment, or who want a widely recognized cinematic subject for their walls are the natural audience for this series entry.
Historical Context
Godfather - Sonny belongs to Fairey's prolific mid-2000s Obey Giant period and to his Godfather series of character portraits, released as a coordinated set in spring 2006. By this point his studio practice was fully mature and his appropriation of celebrated cinema and pop-culture imagery was a well-established strategy. The Godfather portraits reflect his recurring interest in iconic film subjects and his method of issuing themed groupings of related prints. Rendered in his bold graphic portrait style with decorative framing, and flagged in the source for both pop culture and legacy themes, the series sits within his broader pop-culture output, predating his late-decade mainstream breakthrough.
FAQ
Is Godfather - Sonny part of a series?
Yes. Sonny is one of several character portraits in Fairey's 2006 Godfather series, alongside The Don, Fredo, and Tom. Many collectors seek to assemble the full set of character panels, which adds completist appeal to each individual print.
What is the edition size?
Godfather - Sonny is a first-edition screen print of 500, published by Obey Giant in 2006 at 18 x 24 inches. The moderate edition keeps it accessible while remaining a contained release within his mid-2000s output.
When was it released?
The print was released on April 28, 2006, through Obey Giant at an original price of $35, the same day as the other Godfather character panels. It belongs to Fairey's steady run of standard-format prints that year.
What does the print depict?
It portrays the character Sonny Corleone from The Godfather in Fairey's bold, high-contrast graphic portrait style with his signature ornamental framing. The source flags it under both pop culture and portraits and legacy themes.
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.