Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Flower Vine (Red)”?
Artist Statement
Edition of 100, 18 x 24, $45 Signed and Numbered
Summary
Flower Vine (Red) is a 2009 screen print published by Obey Giant, signed and numbered in an edition of 100 at 18 x 24 inches, originally priced at $45. Part of a release issued across Black, Black/Red, and Red colorways, this Red version applies Fairey's decorative floral motif of climbing vines and blossoms. The composition foregrounds ornamental, nature-derived pattern rather than portraiture or overt politics, showcasing Fairey's interest in symmetry and design. With its small edition of 100, it is among the more limited offerings in his 2009 floral and pattern output, built around botanical line and color.
Why It Matters
Fairey's floral and pattern prints occupy a quieter but enduring corner of his catalog, where his graphic instincts turn toward decoration, symmetry, and botanical symbolism rather than slogans or icons. Flower Vine (Red) exemplifies this strand, translating climbing vines and blossoms into a flat, screen-printed ornament that reads as both wallpaper-like pattern and standalone artwork. For collectors, the small edition of 100 is significant: it is markedly tighter than the 450 to 500 runs common to Fairey's portrait and music prints of the same year, lending the floral works a relative scarcity within his 2009 output. The availability of multiple colorways (Black, Black/Red, Red) also makes Flower Vine attractive to completists who chase full color sets. Aesthetically, the floral motif gives the print broad decorative appeal, fitting collectors who want a Fairey work that integrates into interiors without overt political messaging. It demonstrates the breadth of his practice, showing that the same designer behind propaganda-inflected posters also produced refined ornamental compositions. The combination of limited size, multiple variants, and decorative versatility makes it a distinctive collector target.
Collector Perspective
Flower Vine (Red) suits collectors who favor Fairey's decorative and floral side over his political imagery, and those who appreciate a work that blends easily into home interiors. The edition of 100 is small enough to attract collectors seeking relative scarcity within his catalog, while the 18 x 24 inch format keeps it eminently hangable. Variant hunters will be drawn to the Black, Black/Red, and Red colorways, which invite set-building. Its botanical, pattern-driven design pairs well with Fairey's mandala and ornamental prints, supporting a focused floral or decorative subcollection. Signed and numbered status reinforces its standing as a hand-finished, collectible screen print.
Historical Context
Released in 2009 by Obey Giant, Flower Vine (Red) reflects Fairey's ongoing exploration of ornamental and botanical motifs alongside his better-known political and music work. Throughout the late 2000s, he issued pattern-based and floral prints, often in multiple colorways and smaller editions, that drew on decorative traditions and his interest in symmetry. These works connect to his broader use of floral symbolism, which recurs across his career in pieces ranging from rose imagery to large-scale floral takeovers. The small edition of 100 and the $45 release price place this within the accessible, design-forward segment of his catalog, distributed directly to collectors through Obey Giant's standard signed-and-numbered model.
FAQ
How large is the edition of Flower Vine (Red)?
The edition is 100, making it one of the smaller Fairey screen print runs from 2009. The print is signed and numbered, per the source description. Editions of 100 are notably tighter than the 450 to 500 runs common to his portrait and music prints of the same period.
What colorways were released?
According to the source, the release spanned Black, Black/Red, and Red versions. This Red edition is one of three documented colorways, which makes the work attractive to collectors who pursue complete color sets across a single design.
What are the size, medium, and original price?
Flower Vine (Red) is a screen print measuring 18 x 24 inches, published by Obey Giant in 2009 at an original price of $45. The vertical format and decorative floral motif make it well suited to interior display.
What does the print depict?
The print features a decorative floral vine motif, foregrounding ornamental botanical pattern rather than portraiture or political imagery. It belongs to Fairey's design-forward floral and pattern output, emphasizing symmetry, line, and color.
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.