Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Panther Power”?
Artist Statement
18 x 24 inch Screen Print Signed Edition of 350. Release Date: 10/16/2007
Summary
Panther Power is a 2007 signed screen print by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant in a first edition of 350 at 18 x 24 inches, released October 16, 2007. The work combines Fairey's bold graphic style with imagery evoking power and resistance, touching on themes of consumerism and authority. Rendered in his high-contrast palette, the print sits within his mid-2000s output of editions that fuse pop-culture iconography with pointed social commentary, issued at an accessible original price.
Why It Matters
Panther Power matters as part of Fairey's mid-2000s exploration of power, resistance, and the structures of consumerism. The panther is a charged symbol of strength and defiance, and Fairey channels it through his propaganda-inspired graphic language to comment on who holds power and how it is exercised. Released in October 2007 within Obey Giant's steady stream of editions, the print reflects Fairey's strategy of pairing striking, instantly readable imagery with an underlying critique of authority and commercial culture. Its secondary theme of consumerism and power links it to companion works such as Two Sides Of Capitalism (Bad) and (Good), where Fairey directly interrogates economic systems. The edition of 350 keeps the print collectible while accessible, and its strong central image gives it real wall presence. For collectors, Panther Power is a representative example of how Fairey embeds social messaging inside visually arresting compositions, making it desirable both as a standalone graphic statement and as a connective piece within a broader political and OBEY-related grouping. The work's emphasis on power resonates with the recurring resistance themes that run throughout Fairey's catalog.
Collector Perspective
Panther Power appeals to collectors who appreciate Fairey's blend of bold symbolism and social critique. The strong central motif makes it a confident wall piece, and its power-and-consumerism themes connect it to a wider set of political prints, including the Two Sides Of Capitalism pair and the Obey Billboard works. With a first edition of 350, it is accessible to collectors building a thematic set around resistance and authority rather than pursuing only the scarcest variants. The 18 x 24 inch format frames easily and groups well with other 2007-era Obey Giant editions. Buyers drawn to Fairey's graphic intensity and his commentary on power dynamics will find this a satisfying, display-friendly acquisition.
Historical Context
Panther Power belongs to Fairey's prolific 2007 Obey Giant period, when he was releasing frequent signed editions that combined pop-culture iconography with political commentary. The print's themes of power, resistance, and consumerism reflect his ongoing interrogation of authority and economic systems during this era, a thread shared with works like Two Sides Of Capitalism. The dated October 2007 release situates it within a tightly scheduled run of drops that kept Fairey's work circulating among collectors. This period saw him consolidating the visual and thematic vocabulary of OBEY into a recognizable editioned practice, where charged symbols were deployed in service of social messaging, positioning Panther Power as a characteristic example of his mid-career graphic activism.
FAQ
What is Panther Power by Shepard Fairey?
It is a 2007 signed screen print published by Obey Giant in a first edition of 350, measuring 18 x 24 inches, with a release date of October 16, 2007. The work uses Fairey's bold graphic style and panther imagery to engage themes of power and consumerism.
How large is the print and the edition?
Panther Power measures 18 x 24 inches and was issued in a first edition of 350. It was published by Obey Giant in 2007 as a signed screen print, with an accessible original release price of $35.
What themes does the print address?
Its primary context is collaborations and pop culture, with a secondary theme of consumerism and power. The panther symbolizes strength and resistance, which Fairey channels through his propaganda-inspired style to comment on authority and commercial culture.
What other prints relate to Panther Power?
It connects to power-and-consumerism works such as Two Sides Of Capitalism (Bad) and (Good), the Obey Billboard editions, and the later Endless Power Handbook, all of which explore authority, capitalism, and resistance within Fairey's catalog.
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.