Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “A Heartbeat And A Guitar - Johnny Cash”?
Artist Statement
Edition of 450, 18 x 24, Signed and Numbered, $50 On Sale 5/19/09
Summary
A Heartbeat And A Guitar - Johnny Cash is a 2009 screen print published by Obey Giant, signed and numbered in a first edition of 450 at 18 x 24 inches, originally priced at $50 and released on May 19, 2009. The print honors Johnny Cash, taking its title from the phrase associated with the country legend. Fairey renders the musician in his signature graphic poster style, combining a portrait-based likeness with bold flat color and decorative framing. It joins Fairey's catalog of musician tributes, presenting an American music icon through his unmistakable visual language.
Why It Matters
Johnny Cash is among the most resonant figures in American music, and Fairey's tribute connects his street-art-rooted poster idiom to a cross-genre legend admired across country, rock, and folk audiences. A Heartbeat And A Guitar extends Fairey's long practice of honoring musicians who embody artistic independence and outsider authenticity, values that align with his own anti-authoritarian sensibility. For collectors, the print delivers on multiple fronts: it is a hand-signed and numbered first edition of 450, a manageable size at 18 x 24 inches, and a portrait of a universally recognized subject. The music tie-in widens its audience well beyond dedicated Fairey collectors to include Cash fans seeking distinctive artwork. Within his catalog, the work sits comfortably alongside other 2009 musician and portrait prints, helping document the breadth of artists Fairey chose to celebrate. The combination of an iconic subject, hand-finished edition, and Fairey's instantly identifiable graphic treatment gives the print durable appeal. It exemplifies how he uses portraiture not just for political figures but to canonize cultural heroes whose legacies resonate with his own creative outlook.
Collector Perspective
This print draws two collector groups: Fairey enthusiasts assembling a music-portrait subset, and Johnny Cash fans wanting art that rises above standard memorabilia. The 18 x 24 inch scale makes it easy to frame and display in homes, studios, or music spaces. As a signed and numbered first edition of 450, it offers hand-finished collectibility at an accessible tier of Fairey's output. It complements his other 2009 musician and figure prints, supporting a coherent music-themed collection. Buyers who value Americana and classic country imagery will appreciate the subject, while portrait collectors are drawn to Fairey's confident graphic handling of a legendary face.
Historical Context
Issued in 2009 by Obey Giant during a prolific post-HOPE period, this print reflects Fairey's steady stream of editioned musician portraits. His tributes to figures across punk, hip-hop, rock, and Americana run back to the musical influences that shaped his earliest poster and sticker work. Choosing Johnny Cash, a figure synonymous with independence and authenticity, fits Fairey's pattern of celebrating artists whose values echo his own. The signed-and-numbered first edition of 450 at a $50 release price, dated May 19, 2009, follows Obey Giant's standard direct-to-collector model of the era, distributing accessible hand-finished prints tied to a specific on-sale date.
FAQ
What is the edition size and price of A Heartbeat And A Guitar?
It is a first edition of 450, signed and numbered, with an original release price of $50, per the source. It went on sale May 19, 2009. The edition of 450 is typical of Fairey's accessible signed musician portraits from this period.
Who is the subject of the print?
The print honors Johnny Cash, the legendary American musician. Its title, A Heartbeat And A Guitar, frames the tribute, and Fairey depicts Cash in his signature graphic poster style as part of his catalog of musician portraits.
What are the size and medium?
The work is a screen print measuring 18 x 24 inches, published by Obey Giant in 2009. Screen printing gives it the flat, bold color and crisp edges characteristic of Fairey's poster-style portraiture, and the vertical format suits standard framing.
Is the print hand-signed?
Yes. The source states it is signed and numbered. Hand-signing is an important value factor for collectors comparing Fairey screen prints, distinguishing this first edition from any unsigned or open-edition material.
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.