Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Vivi La Revolucion”?
Artist Statement
18 x 24 inch Screen Print, Edition of 450
Summary
Vivi La Revolucion is a 2008 screen print by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant as a First Edition of 450. The work measures 18 x 24 inches and was released at an original price of $45. Its title invokes revolutionary sentiment, in keeping with Fairey's recurring engagement with imagery of resistance and protest. The source classifies it under collaborations and pop culture. As with Fairey's other Obey Giant editions from this period, it applies his bold, graphic poster aesthetic to a revolution-themed subject in a format made for accessible collecting and display.
Why It Matters
Vivi La Revolucion belongs to Shepard Fairey's prolific 2008 Obey Giant output, a year in which he issued numerous editioned screen prints that fused street-art graphics with messages of revolution and resistance. Its title alone places it within the activist current that defines much of his work, and its edition of 450 at a $45 release price reflects Fairey's deliberate strategy of making politically charged art affordable and broadly distributed. For collectors, the print matters as a representative example of how Fairey packaged revolutionary themes into clean, repeatable poster designs during one of his most productive periods. It is not a singular rarity but part of a coherent body of work, and its value lies in that thematic and stylistic consistency. The piece connects to a wider network of 2008 collaborations and pop-culture-inflected releases, making it a useful anchor for collectors tracing how Fairey balanced commercial accessibility with political messaging. Its straightforward format and recognizable aesthetic make it a durable, on-message addition to any collection organized around Fairey's activist iconography.
Collector Perspective
Vivi La Revolucion suits collectors drawn to Fairey's revolution and protest imagery and those assembling a cross-section of his 2008 Obey Giant screen prints. With an edition of 450 and a modest original price, it was positioned as an accessible work rather than a scarce trophy, making it approachable for newer collectors and thematic completists. The 18 x 24 inch format frames easily and displays cleanly alongside other Fairey poster works. It fits collections organized around political and revolutionary themes, and pairs naturally with his other 2008 collaboration-and-pop-culture releases for a coherent grouping that captures the breadth of his output that year.
Historical Context
Vivi La Revolucion dates to October 2008 and sits within Shepard Fairey's mature Obey Giant screen-print program. That year marked a high point in his visibility and productivity, with a steady stream of editioned prints addressing themes of revolution, resistance, and pop culture. The work reflects the consolidated visual language Fairey had developed by this stage: bold graphic forms, accessible pricing, and editions sized for wide distribution. Classified under collaborations and pop culture, it belongs to the cluster of 2008 releases that show Fairey moving fluidly between overt political messaging and culturally referential imagery. Within his broader arc, the print is an example of how he sustained a high-volume practice of poster art that kept his activist iconography in continuous circulation among collectors.
FAQ
When was Vivi La Revolucion released?
Vivi La Revolucion was released in 2008 and published by Obey Giant. The source record dates the release to October 2008 and classifies it as a First Edition screen print under the collaborations and pop culture theme.
How large is the edition and what did it cost?
The print was issued in a First Edition of 450 at an original price of $45, according to the source. This edition size and price point are typical of Fairey's Obey Giant screen prints from this period.
What are the dimensions and medium?
Vivi La Revolucion is a screen print measuring 18 x 24 inches, as confirmed by the source record. It uses the bold graphic poster aesthetic characteristic of Fairey's Obey Giant editions.
What is the theme of the work?
The source classifies the print under collaborations and pop culture. Its title evokes revolutionary sentiment, aligning it with the resistance and protest imagery that recurs throughout Fairey's body of work.
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.