Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Godfather - The Don”?
Artist Statement
GODFATHER – THE DON Screen Print 18 x 24 inches Edition of 500
Summary
Godfather - The Don 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 patriarch Don 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 output through Obey Giant and forms the centerpiece panel in a coordinated set of character portraits appropriating imagery from one of cinema's most celebrated films.
Why It Matters
Godfather - The Don is the anchor portrait of Fairey's Godfather series, depicting the patriarch Don Corleone, the most recognizable figure of the film. As the centerpiece of a coordinated set of character panels, it exemplifies Fairey's practice of mining celebrated cinema for iconic source material and transforming it into collectible graphic portraiture. Rendered in his high-contrast portrait language with ornamental framing, The Don turns a defining film character into a poster-ready icon, a move central to his pop-culture appropriation work. For collectors, the series appeal is strong, and The Don is often the most sought-after panel given the character's prominence, which sustains demand within the set. 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 broad cultural recognition extending well beyond dedicated Fairey collectors to film enthusiasts. As the keystone of a themed grouping, the print documents Fairey's interest in cinematic iconography and his strategy of releasing matched portrait sets. It rewards collectors drawn to pop-culture appropriation, character portraiture, and the completist appeal of a coordinated series, while remaining 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, and as the anchor portrait of the patriarch it is often the most desirable panel in the set. As one entry in a character series, it carries strong completist appeal for collectors assembling the full Godfather grouping. The standard 18 x 24 inch size frames easily and is especially striking displayed alongside the other character panels. The moderate edition of 500 keeps it accessible while remaining contained. Buyers who collect by film theme, who appreciate Fairey's graphic portrait treatment, or who want a centerpiece cinematic subject for their walls are the natural audience.
Historical Context
Godfather - The Don 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. As the anchor portrait of the patriarch, The Don occupies the central position in a themed grouping that reflects Fairey's recurring interest in iconic film subjects and his method of issuing matched portrait sets. Rendered in his bold graphic style with decorative framing, the series sits within his broader pop-culture output and predates his late-decade rise to mainstream prominence.
FAQ
Is Godfather - The Don part of a series?
Yes. The Don is the anchor portrait of Fairey's 2006 Godfather series, alongside Fredo, Sonny, and Tom. As the patriarch and most recognizable character, it is often the most sought-after panel for collectors assembling the full set.
What is the edition size?
Godfather - The Don 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 catalog.
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 Don Corleone, the patriarch from The Godfather, rendered in Fairey's bold, high-contrast graphic portrait style with his signature ornamental framing. It exemplifies his appropriation of iconic cinema into collectible imagery.
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.