Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “M16 vs AK47 (Large Format)”?
Artist Statement
Part of the RISE ABOVE Series that debuted at the Merry Karnowsky Opening in Los Angeles
Summary
M16 vs AK47 is a 2006 large-format screen print published in connection with the Merry Karnowsky Gallery, measuring 42 by 29 inches in an edition of 50. The source identifies it as part of the RISE ABOVE Series that debuted at the Merry Karnowsky opening in Los Angeles, offered at $400. The title references two iconic firearms, the American M16 and the Soviet AK47, and the theme signal notes an angel motif. As a large-format screen print in a small edition, it functions as a gallery-scale work within Fairey's RISE ABOVE body of work.
Why It Matters
This print matters as a gallery-scale entry in Fairey's RISE ABOVE Series, which debuted at the Merry Karnowsky opening in Los Angeles. The title pits two of the most recognizable weapons of the twentieth century against each other, the American M16 and the Soviet AK47, framing the work around themes of conflict and militarism that recur in Fairey's political imagery. Combined with the angel motif noted in the source, the piece sets emblems of violence against a more redemptive visual element, consistent with the aspirational tone the RISE ABOVE title implies. For collectors, the small edition of 50 and large 42-by-29-inch format place it among Fairey's more exclusive gallery releases rather than his mass-market posters. Its debut context at Merry Karnowsky, a gallery that showed his work in this period, gives it provenance significance within his exhibition history. The work appeals to collectors who follow the political and anti-conflict threads of his output and who value the scarcer, exhibition-tied editions. Its meaning rests on the juxtaposition the title proposes and its place in a named series, making it a substantive piece for collectors of his message-driven work.
Collector Perspective
This print suits collectors who pursue Fairey's scarcer, exhibition-tied work and the political or anti-conflict strands of his catalog. With an edition of just 50 and a large 42-by-29-inch format, it sits among his more exclusive gallery releases, appealing to buyers who prioritize lower edition numbers and a documented debut at the Merry Karnowsky opening in Los Angeles. It displays as a statement piece and pairs naturally with the other RISE ABOVE Series prints to present the series as a group. Collectors drawn to the loaded imagery of the M16-versus-AK47 title and the contrasting angel motif will value its message, while those building a RISE ABOVE grouping will want it to round out the set.
Historical Context
Created in 2006, this print belongs to the RISE ABOVE Series that debuted at the Merry Karnowsky Gallery opening in Los Angeles, situating it within Fairey's gallery exhibition activity of the mid-2000s. By this point he was increasingly working in fine-art gallery contexts alongside his street and poster output, and small-edition large formats like this reflect that shift toward exhibition-scale pieces. The M16-versus-AK47 subject connects to the conflict and militarism motifs that appear across his political work, while the RISE ABOVE framing aligns with his recurring aspirational messaging. The piece documents a specific gallery debut and sits among the other 2006 RISE ABOVE editions in his catalog.
FAQ
What series does this print belong to?
It is part of the RISE ABOVE Series that debuted at the Merry Karnowsky opening in Los Angeles. The source identifies it as a large-format screen print released in connection with that 2006 gallery debut.
What is the edition size?
It is an edition of 50, published in 2006 at 42 by 29 inches. The small run places it among Fairey's more exclusive, gallery-tied large-format releases rather than his mass-market posters.
What does the title refer to?
The title M16 vs AK47 references two of the most recognizable firearms of the twentieth century, the American M16 and the Soviet AK47, framing the work around themes of conflict. The source also notes an angel motif in the imagery.
Where did it first appear?
It debuted at the Merry Karnowsky Gallery opening in Los Angeles as part of the RISE ABOVE Series, giving it a documented exhibition origin within Fairey's gallery history of the period.
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.