Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Bob Mould”?
Artist Statement
Bob Mould was the guitar player and co-songwriter of Husker Du, one of the most progressive hardcore/indy bands of the 80's . Originally one of the most successful bands on SST records, they were one of the first American indie bands to sign to a major label and are credited with paving the way for bands like Sonic Youth, The Pixies, and Nirvana. I borrowed Husker Du’s Zen Arcade album from a friend my 10th grade year and quickly collected the rest of their catalog. I especially recommend their album Flip Your Wig. After Husker Du broke up Bob went on to form Sugar and now performs solo. His new album District Line is awesome. Check it out at www.bobmould.com. The edition is 500 with 250 available through Obey Giant and 250 going to Bob’s tour.
Summary
Bob Mould is a 2008 screen print, 18 x 24 inches, in an edition of 500 published by Obey Giant, released March 5, 2008. It portrays Bob Mould, guitarist and co-songwriter of the influential 1980s hardcore/indie band Husker Du, later of Sugar and a solo career. Per the source, the edition of 500 was split, with 250 available through Obey Giant and 250 going to Mould's tour. Fairey's text frames the print as a personal tribute, recounting his teenage discovery of Husker Du and crediting the band with paving the way for groups like Sonic Youth, the Pixies, and Nirvana. The image is a music portrait in his signature poster style.
Why It Matters
Bob Mould is a personal, music-driven portrait that illuminates the punk and indie roots underpinning Fairey's whole aesthetic and worldview. In his accompanying text, Fairey traces his teenage discovery of Husker Du's Zen Arcade and credits the band with paving the way for Sonic Youth, the Pixies, and Nirvana, making the print a document of the underground music lineage that shaped him. This places it within his important strand of musician portraits, where his propaganda-derived graphic language is turned toward honoring the artists he admires. The edition structure is notable: of the 500 prints, 250 were sold through Obey Giant and 250 went to Mould's tour, an arrangement that ties the artwork directly to the musician's live activity and merch ecosystem. For collectors of music posters, indie and hardcore history, or Fairey's portrait work, the print is a meaningful crossover object. It reflects how Fairey used his platform to celebrate formative influences, reinforcing the authenticity of his connection to the punk and indie scenes that inform his street-art practice.
Collector Perspective
This print is a natural fit for collectors of music portraits, punk and indie rock history, and fans of Husker Du, Sugar, or Bob Mould specifically. Fairey's personal endorsement and detailed backstory make it especially appealing to those who value the narrative behind a piece. With an edition of 500 split between Obey Giant and Mould's tour, it carries an interesting provenance angle for completists. As a signed-era 18 x 24 inch music portrait, it slots well into a wall of Fairey musician prints or a dedicated indie/punk music display, complementing band-logo and other portrait releases from his catalog.
Historical Context
Released March 2008, Bob Mould belongs to Fairey's deep catalog of music portraits and band tributes, a thread that runs throughout his career and reflects his origins in punk, skate, and indie subcultures. The print documents his personal connection to 1980s American hardcore and indie rock, naming Husker Du as a foundational influence on later bands. Its split edition, half to Obey Giant and half to Mould's tour, illustrates how Fairey's music prints often functioned within the touring and merchandising world of the musicians themselves. It sits among his many 2008 releases, a year dominated commercially by his Obama work but still rich with music-focused output.
FAQ
Who is depicted in this print?
It depicts Bob Mould, guitarist and co-songwriter of Husker Du, one of the most progressive hardcore/indie bands of the 1980s. He later formed Sugar and performs solo. Fairey describes him as a major personal influence.
What are the edition details?
Bob Mould is a screen print measuring 18 x 24 inches, published by Obey Giant in an edition of 500. Per the source, 250 were available through Obey Giant and 250 went to Mould's tour. It was released March 5, 2008.
Why did Fairey make this print?
Fairey describes Husker Du as a formative influence, recalling that he borrowed their album Zen Arcade in 10th grade and collected their catalog. He credits the band with paving the way for groups like Sonic Youth, the Pixies, and Nirvana.
How was the edition distributed?
The edition of 500 was split evenly, with 250 prints made available through Obey Giant and 250 going to Bob Mould's tour, tying the artwork directly to the musician's live activity.
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.