Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Kobe Bryant - MVP”?
Artist Statement
It does not matter who your favorite team is, if you appreciate style, grace, and power in basketball, then you appreciate Kobe Bryant. I was asked by Upper Deck to do a portrait of Kobe at his request. I knew Kobe from working on the logo for his KB24 website. Kobe is a basketball icon and was a pleasure to be able to create a piece of iconic art of and for him. These prints are tradition fine art lithographs, with beautiful pigment density, they are not offset lithography. -Shepard Two editions of this fine art lithograph have been produced, "MVP" and "KOBE". Each are limited editions with a portion of the editions signed by both Kobe and Shepard, all have been signed by Shepard.
Summary
Kobe Bryant - MVP is a 2008 fine art lithograph portrait of basketball icon Kobe Bryant, created by Shepard Fairey at Kobe's request and published by Upper Deck. The 30 x 20 inch print is a limited first edition of 50 and renders Bryant in Fairey's bold, graphic portrait language. Fairey notes these are traditional fine art lithographs with high pigment density rather than offset lithography. It was produced as one of two companion editions, 'MVP' and 'KOBE', celebrating Bryant's style, grace and power on the court.
Why It Matters
This print sits at the intersection of Shepard Fairey's portrait practice and mainstream sports celebrity, a relatively uncommon pairing in his catalog. Commissioned by Upper Deck directly at Kobe Bryant's request, it carries a personal connection: Fairey had already designed the logo for Bryant's KB24 website, so the collaboration was rooted in an existing relationship rather than a pure licensing deal. For collectors, the appeal is twofold. It is a genuine Fairey portrait of one of basketball's most recognizable figures, and it is a true fine art lithograph produced in a small first edition of 50, distinguishing it from the artist's more common screen prints. The crossover into sports memorabilia broadens its audience beyond traditional street art and political print collectors to NBA and Kobe Bryant enthusiasts. The source notes that a portion of the editions were signed by both Kobe and Shepard, with all signed by Shepard, which adds collector interest, though specific signature counts are not given. As a small-edition celebrity portrait tied to a named brand partner, it stands apart from Fairey's activist and OBEY-iconography output.
Collector Perspective
This print draws two distinct collector groups: dedicated Shepard Fairey portrait collectors and sports memorabilia enthusiasts, particularly Kobe Bryant and Lakers fans. Its small first edition of 50 and fine art lithograph medium make it scarcer than Fairey's typical screen print releases, which appeals to those seeking less-common works in his catalog. The large 30 x 20 inch format gives it strong wall presence, and the recognizable subject makes it an accessible centerpiece for display, even for buyers new to Fairey. It pairs naturally with its companion 'KOBE' edition and with Fairey's other celebrity and pop-culture portraits. Collectors valuing crossover appeal, where street art meets sports culture, will find this a focused, high-recognition acquisition.
Historical Context
Kobe Bryant - MVP dates to late 2008, a period when Fairey's profile was rising sharply alongside his Obama-era visibility. While much of his work from this stretch was political or OBEY-branded, this commission reflects his parallel stream of celebrity and brand collaborations, here with trading card company Upper Deck. The piece grew out of Fairey's earlier work designing the KB24 logo for Bryant, showing how his graphic identity work fed into fine art commissions. Produced as a traditional fine art lithograph rather than his signature screen print, it documents Fairey applying his portrait vocabulary to a sports icon. It belongs to the cluster of 2007-2008 collaborations and pop-culture portraits in his catalog rather than to his protest or propaganda lineage.
FAQ
What is the edition size of Kobe Bryant - MVP?
It is a limited first edition of 50. The source notes a portion of the editions were signed by both Kobe Bryant and Shepard Fairey, with all signed by Shepard, though it does not give exact signed counts. At 30 x 20 inches, it is a fine art lithograph published by Upper Deck in 2008.
Is this an offset or fine art lithograph?
Fairey states explicitly that these are traditional fine art lithographs with beautiful pigment density, and that they are not offset lithography. This distinguishes the print from his offset reproductions and contributes to its standing as a more premium production in his catalog.
Why did Shepard Fairey create this print?
Upper Deck asked Fairey to make a portrait of Kobe Bryant at Bryant's own request. Fairey already knew Bryant from designing the logo for his KB24 website, and described creating iconic art of a basketball icon as a pleasure. Two editions were produced, titled 'MVP' and 'KOBE'.
How does MVP differ from the KOBE edition?
The source confirms two companion fine art lithograph editions were produced, 'MVP' and 'KOBE', each a limited edition. They were released as a pair from the same Upper Deck commission. Specific differences in imagery beyond their titles are not detailed in the source.
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.