Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Retro Series - Obey '04 (Large Format)”?
Artist Statement
These Large Format prints were created to commemorate the release of Shepard's monograph Supply and Demand. The series displays the evolution of the GIANT ICON Face and Shepard's progression in design from 1989 to 2004. Each print measures 2.5' x 3.5' and is an edition of 89, signed and numbered. We are offering the series individually and as a set and if you purchase the set we will included a signed copy of the Supply and Demand book. $400 Individually, or $1200 for the set.
Summary
Retro Series - Obey '04 (Large Format) is a 2006 Shepard Fairey screen print published by Obey Giant, measuring 30 x 42 inches in a signed and numbered Large Format edition of 89. The source states the series was created to commemorate Fairey's monograph Supply and Demand and displays the evolution of the GIANT ICON Face and his design progression from 1989 to 2004. Offered individually or as a set, the set option included a signed copy of the book. This print represents the 2004 stage of the icon's development.
Why It Matters
Retro Series - Obey '04 is a documentary object as much as an artwork: per the source, it was made to commemorate Fairey's monograph Supply and Demand and to chart the evolution of the GIANT ICON Face and his design progression from 1989 to 2004. That makes it a deliberate, large-format statement about Fairey's own visual history, with the '04 print marking the most recent stage of the icon's development in the series. The signed-and-numbered Large Format edition of 89 is among the smallest runs in this batch, and the large 30 x 42 inch scale gives it a commanding physical presence that the standard portrait-format prints lack. The source notes the prints were offered individually or as a set, with the set including a signed copy of the Supply and Demand book, which heightens its appeal to collectors seeking a complete, provenance-rich grouping. For those focused on OBEY iconography and the arc of Fairey's brand, this print and its companions ('89, '95, '99) form a self-curated retrospective. Its combination of small edition, large scale, signed status, book tie-in, and explicit historical framing makes it one of the more collector-significant items in the group.
Collector Perspective
This print is a strong fit for serious OBEY-iconography collectors and those who want a large-scale, signed-and-numbered statement piece. The Large Format edition of 89 is small and the 30 x 42 inch size makes it a focal wall work rather than a supporting piece. It is most powerful as part of the full Retro Series set ('89, '95, '99, '04), which the source notes could be bought together with a signed copy of Supply and Demand, giving completist collectors a coherent, provenance-rich acquisition. It appeals to collectors who value documented historical framing, the larger format, and the prestige of a signed, numbered, book-linked release tied directly to Fairey's monograph.
Historical Context
Retro Series - Obey '04 dates to July 2006 and was, per the source, created to commemorate the release of Fairey's monograph Supply and Demand. The series explicitly charts the evolution of the GIANT ICON Face and Fairey's design progression from 1989 to 2004, making it a self-curated retrospective of his core brand image across fifteen years of practice. The '04 print marks the most recent point in that timeline. Issued as a signed and numbered Large Format edition of 89 and offered both individually and as a set with the book, it reflects a moment when Fairey was consolidating and presenting his own legacy. Coming just before his 2008 mainstream breakout, it captures him formalizing the OBEY icon's history while continuing to expand his editioned output.
FAQ
What is Retro Series - Obey '04 (Large Format)?
It is a 2006 Shepard Fairey screen print published by Obey Giant, measuring 30 x 42 inches (2.5' x 3.5') in a signed and numbered Large Format edition of 89. It represents the 2004 stage of the GIANT ICON's evolution within the Retro Series, dated July 22, 2006.
Why was the series created?
Per the source, the Large Format prints were made to commemorate the release of Fairey's monograph Supply and Demand. The series displays the evolution of the GIANT ICON Face and his design progression from 1989 to 2004.
How large is the edition and is it signed?
It is a Large Format edition of 89, signed and numbered, making it one of the smaller runs in this group. The release price was 400 dollars individually, or 1200 dollars for the set.
Was it sold as a set?
Yes. The source notes the prints were offered individually or as a set, and purchasing the set included a signed copy of the Supply and Demand book, which appeals to completist collectors.
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.