Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Paul McCartney, Coachella 2009 (First Edition)”?
Artist Statement
2009 Edition 500 Signed and Numbered in Pencil
Summary
Paul McCartney, Coachella 2009 is a 2009 screen print published by Obey Giant in a first edition of 500, signed and numbered in pencil. Measuring 18 x 24 inches, the print commemorates McCartney's headlining appearance at the Coachella music festival. Fairey renders the rock icon in his signature poster idiom, pairing a portrait-based likeness with bold graphic treatment and decorative framing elements. The work sits within Fairey's long-running practice of celebrating musicians he admires, translating a live-event moment into a collectible print. It is a music-subject portrait built for fans of both the artist and the performer.
Why It Matters
Music has been a foundational current in Shepard Fairey's work, and his concert and musician prints form one of the most beloved threads of his catalog. Paul McCartney, Coachella 2009 connects Fairey's poster language to one of the most recognizable figures in popular music, captured at a specific cultural moment: a 2009 festival headlining set. For collectors, the appeal is twofold. It functions as a Fairey portrait, with his characteristic graphic boldness and decorative borders, and as a piece of music memorabilia tied to a marquee live event. The first edition of 500, signed and numbered in pencil, places it in the accessible middle of Fairey's editioned output, where hand-signing adds tangible value over open offset posters. Prints like this reward cross-over collectors who care about both street-art lineage and rock history. The Coachella tie-in also anchors the work to a moment in festival culture, giving it documentary as well as aesthetic value. It stands as a representative example of how Fairey honors musical icons while keeping his unmistakable visual signature intact.
Collector Perspective
This print appeals to two overlapping audiences: Shepard Fairey print collectors building a music-themed subset, and Beatles or Paul McCartney fans seeking artwork beyond standard memorabilia. The 18 x 24 inch format is highly displayable, working well in living rooms, studios, or music-room walls without dominating a space. Hand-signed and numbered status from an edition of 500 makes it a desirable yet attainable entry in Fairey's catalog. It pairs naturally with other 2009 Obey Giant music and portrait prints, reinforcing a cohesive collection theme. Buyers drawn to festival culture and the Coachella connection will value its specific event tie-in, while portrait collectors appreciate Fairey's graphic handling of a beloved subject.
Historical Context
Released in 2009 through Obey Giant, this print belongs to a productive late-2000s period when Fairey, riding the visibility of his 2008 Obama HOPE image, was issuing a steady stream of editioned screen prints across music, political, and collaborative subjects. His musician portraits extend a practice rooted in his admiration for punk, hip-hop, and classic rock, themes that run back to his earliest poster and sticker work. By tying the image to McCartney's 2009 Coachella appearance, Fairey linked his studio output to live music culture, a recurring strategy in his catalog. The signed-and-numbered edition of 500 reflects the standard Obey Giant release model of the era, distributing accessible hand-finished prints directly to fans and collectors.
FAQ
What is the edition size of Paul McCartney, Coachella 2009?
The first edition is 500 prints. Each is signed and numbered in pencil, per the source description, making it a hand-finished collectible rather than an open offset poster. The edition size of 500 places it in the accessible middle range of Shepard Fairey's signed and numbered screen print releases from Obey Giant.
What are the dimensions and medium?
The print measures 18 x 24 inches and is a screen print published by Obey Giant in 2009. The vertical format suits portrait display, and screen printing gives the work the bold, flat color and crisp graphic edges characteristic of Fairey's poster-style output.
Is the print signed?
Yes. According to the source, it is signed and numbered in pencil. Hand-signing distinguishes this first edition and is a key factor collectors weigh when valuing Fairey screen prints over unsigned or open-edition versions.
What does the print depict?
The print honors Paul McCartney in connection with the Coachella music festival in 2009. It is part of Fairey's body of musician portraits, rendering a celebrated performer in his signature graphic poster style.
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.