What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Rise Above Cop (Large Format)”?

Artist Statement

Part of the RISE ABOVE Series that debuted at the Merry Karnowsky Opening in Los Angeles

Summary

Rise Above Cop 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 a police figure within the series' aspirational RISE ABOVE framing, and the theme signal notes an angel motif. As a small-edition large-format screen print, it functions as a gallery-scale work within Fairey's RISE ABOVE body of work.

Why It Matters

This print matters as part of the RISE ABOVE Series that debuted at the Merry Karnowsky opening in Los Angeles, one of Fairey's exhibition-tied bodies of work from the mid-2000s. The title's reference to a police figure places the piece within the strand of his output that engages authority and power, while the RISE ABOVE framing pairs that subject with his recurring aspirational message. The angel motif noted in the source adds a redemptive visual element consistent with the series' tone. For collectors, the small edition of 50 and large 42-by-29-inch format mark it as one of his more exclusive gallery releases rather than a mass-market poster. Its documented debut at Merry Karnowsky gives it provenance significance within his exhibition history. The work appeals to collectors who follow the political and authority-questioning threads of his catalog and who value scarcer, exhibition-launched editions. Its meaning rests on the tension the title sets up between authority and the RISE ABOVE ideal, and on its place in a named series, making it a substantive entry for collectors of his message-driven gallery work.

Collector Perspective

This print appeals to collectors of Fairey's political and authority-themed work and to those seeking his scarcer, exhibition-tied editions. With an edition of just 50 and a 42-by-29-inch format, it sits among his more exclusive large-format gallery releases, attractive to buyers who value low edition numbers and the documented Merry Karnowsky debut. It functions as a bold statement piece and pairs naturally with the other RISE ABOVE Series prints to present the series as a group. Collectors drawn to the loaded subject of the police figure within the RISE ABOVE framing will value its message, while those building a RISE ABOVE grouping will want it to complete the set alongside its companion editions.

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 period 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 subject's reference to a police figure connects to the authority and power themes that recur across his political work, while the RISE ABOVE framing aligns with his aspirational messaging. The piece documents a specific gallery debut and sits among the other 2006 RISE ABOVE editions in his catalog.

FAQ

Related Works

Rise Above Fist (Large Format)2006 · Companion RISE ABOVE Series large format from the same 2006 Merry Karnowsky debut, edition of 50.

M16 vs AK47 (Large Format)2006 · Another RISE ABOVE Series large format from the same opening, same format and edition size.

Uncle Scam2006 · Part of the same RISE ABOVE Series debuting at the Merry Karnowsky opening in 2006.

Rise Above Stamp2006 · Shares the RISE ABOVE motif and 2006 release, extending the same aspirational message.

Rise Above Rose Geometric2022 · Later RISE ABOVE print continuing the recurring RISE ABOVE theme in Fairey's catalog.

Angela Davis (Large Format)2005 · Adjacent large-format political print sharing authority and resistance subject matter.