Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Defiant Youth”?
Artist Statement
Edition of 450, 18 x 24, Signed and Numbered, $55 On Sale 6/9/09
Summary
Defiant Youth is a 2009 screen print published by Obey Giant, signed and numbered in a first edition of 450 at 18 x 24 inches, priced at $55 and released June 9, 2009. The title points to themes of youthful rebellion and resistance, rendered in Fairey's signature graphic poster style with bold flat color and decorative framing. The work combines a figure-based composition with his characteristic propaganda-inflected design language. It joins Fairey's 2009 catalog of editioned screen prints, presenting a defiant subject consistent with his long-running interest in resistance and counterculture imagery.
Why It Matters
Defiant Youth speaks directly to the spirit that animates much of Shepard Fairey's career: rebellion, resistance, and the energy of counterculture. The title itself frames the print as a statement on youthful defiance, a theme Fairey has channeled since his earliest sticker and poster work rooted in punk and skate culture. For collectors, the print is a representative example of his 2009 editioned output, hand-signed and numbered in a first edition of 450 at a displayable 18 x 24 inch scale. Its graphic boldness and propaganda-style framing make it instantly identifiable as a Fairey work, while the resistance theme gives it conceptual continuity with his broader catalog of defiant figures and protest imagery. The edition of 450 places it in the accessible middle range of his signed prints, making it attainable for a wide collector base. As part of a productive year that saw Fairey release numerous portrait, music, and themed prints, Defiant Youth helps document the consistency of his message across subjects. It appeals to collectors drawn to the rebellious, anti-authoritarian core of his work and to those building a representative cross-section of his 2009 releases.
Collector Perspective
Defiant Youth appeals to collectors drawn to the rebellious, counterculture heart of Fairey's practice and to those assembling a representative set of his 2009 signed prints. The 18 x 24 inch format is easy to frame and display in homes, studios, or creative spaces. As a signed and numbered first edition of 450, it offers hand-finished collectibility at an accessible price tier. Its resistance theme and bold graphic treatment pair well with Fairey's other defiant-figure and protest-oriented prints, supporting a cohesive collection built around his anti-authoritarian message. Buyers who value the punk and street-culture roots of his work will find the subject especially resonant.
Historical Context
Released June 9, 2009 by Obey Giant during a prolific post-HOPE period, Defiant Youth reflects Fairey's continued production of editioned screen prints carrying themes of rebellion and resistance. These ideas trace back to his earliest work in punk, skate, and street culture, where defiance of authority and conformity was central. The print's title and subject align with a recurring thread across his catalog that celebrates counterculture energy and youthful resistance. Issued as a signed-and-numbered first edition of 450 at $55, it follows Obey Giant's standard direct-to-collector release 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 Defiant Youth?
It is a first edition of 450, signed and numbered, originally priced at $55, per the source. It went on sale June 9, 2009. The edition of 450 places it in the accessible middle range of Fairey's signed and numbered screen prints from this period.
What are the size and medium?
Defiant Youth is a screen print measuring 18 x 24 inches, published by Obey Giant in 2009. Screen printing gives the work the flat, bold color and crisp graphic edges characteristic of Fairey's poster-style output, and the vertical format suits standard framing.
Is the print hand-signed?
Yes. The source states it is signed and numbered. Hand-signing is a key value factor for collectors comparing Fairey screen prints, distinguishing this first edition from unsigned or open-edition material.
What theme does the print address?
The title Defiant Youth points to themes of youthful rebellion and resistance, consistent with the counterculture and anti-authoritarian spirit running through Fairey's work since his earliest punk and street-culture roots.
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.