Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Jordan Bulls (18 x 24 Inch)”?
Artist Statement
The initial offering consisting of just the high-end, 26" x 36" silk-screened master prints signed by both Jordan and Fairey (limited to 50 versions each) for $4,499.99 collectively. For anyone who purchases the three-part master print series, they will receive the same edition number in the limited-to-50 series for each print (UNC, Bulls and the HOF induction). Additionally, on Sept 17th the three-part sets signed by Fairey-only, which also measure 26" wide x 36" high and are limited to 123 apiece, go on sale for $1,349.99 collectively. On Sept 22nd, individual versions of the dual-signed master prints will go on sale for $1,499.99 each, with the Fairey-only signed versions also being made available for $499.99 apiece. Lastly, on Tuesday, Sept. 29, an 18" wide x 24" high Fairey-signed print that's limited to 523 will be made available. Complete sets of the three single-signed, 18" x 24" prints will retail for $215.99 each with individual pieces listed for $79.99. "As long time fans of Shepard's art and having worked with him prior to the popularity and notoriety of his Obama 'Hope' artwork, we are very excited to offer collectors of sports memorabilia an art series that will bring to life Jordan's accomplishments and further cement his legacy," said Chuck Donato, business manager of UDA, the Upper Deck Company's memorabilia division. "Jordan is the sporting world's ultimate icon and there isn't a more relevant or iconic artist currently than Shepard, so this is an epic pairing of athlete and artist. We couldn't be more thrilled."
Summary
Jordan Bulls (18 x 24 Inch) is a 2009 screen print published by Upper Deck, depicting Michael Jordan in his Chicago Bulls era. This Fairey-signed 18 x 24 inch version is limited to 523 and was made available September 29, 2009 at about $80. It is one of a three-print Jordan series alongside the UNC and Hall of Fame induction images, which Upper Deck also issued in larger dual-signed and Fairey-only master formats. The print brings Fairey's bold, stylized graphic portraiture to Jordan's defining professional years with the Bulls, celebrating his career and legacy.
Why It Matters
Jordan Bulls captures the peak chapter of Michael Jordan's career within Upper Deck's three-part series, depicting him in the Chicago Bulls era that defines his global icon status. As the centerpiece subject of the program, it carries the strongest immediate recognition for general basketball fans. The series itself is significant as a high-profile pairing of the most prominent street-art-derived artist of the moment with the sporting world's ultimate icon, a collaboration Upper Deck publicly framed as epic and legacy-affirming while explicitly referencing Fairey's Obama HOPE notoriety. For collectors, the Bulls print sits where fine-art print collecting meets sports memorabilia, drawing demand from both communities. The 523-piece Fairey-signed 18 x 24 version is the most accessible individual tier in a program that scaled up to multi-thousand-dollar master prints, making it the realistic entry point for most buyers. Within the connected trio, the Bulls image is often the most coveted because it represents Jordan's championship-era identity. It documents Fairey's expansion into licensed sports portraiture at the height of his mainstream visibility and remains a durable crossover collectible.
Collector Perspective
Jordan Bulls is the trio's marquee subject and tends to draw the broadest interest from Michael Jordan and basketball memorabilia collectors, as the Bulls era is his most recognizable identity. It also appeals to Fairey collectors building out his portrait work. Limited to 523 at roughly $80 originally, this 18 x 24 Fairey-signed version is the most accessible signed tier in the Upper Deck program, offering an attainable way to own a Fairey Jordan image. It frames well for a den, office, or sports room and pairs naturally with the UNC and Hall of Fame prints for collectors completing the three-stage Jordan narrative, with the Bulls piece often serving as the anchor of that set.
Historical Context
Published by Upper Deck and made available September 29, 2009, Jordan Bulls portrays Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls years as the central image of a three-print commemorative program. Upper Deck framed the collaboration as uniting basketball's ultimate icon with a leading contemporary artist, citing Fairey's Obama HOPE prominence. In Fairey's arc, the series illustrates how his post-2008 visibility brought licensed commissions that applied his portrait style to subjects beyond politics and music. The program spanned 26 x 36 inch dual-signed and Fairey-only master prints in editions of 50 and 123, with this 18 x 24 Fairey-signed version of 523 as the most widely available tier. The Bulls subject represents Jordan's defining professional era, complementing the UNC origin and Hall of Fame induction images across the set.
FAQ
What era of Jordan does this print show?
It depicts Michael Jordan in his Chicago Bulls era, the central subject of a three-print series that also includes UNC and Hall of Fame induction images, published by Upper Deck in 2009.
How limited and how much was it?
This Fairey-signed 18 x 24 inch version is limited to 523 and was made available September 29, 2009. The record lists an individual price around $80 for this size; larger 26 x 36 inch master prints were issued in much smaller editions.
Can it be collected as part of a set?
Yes. Upper Deck offered complete sets of the three single-signed 18 x 24 prints (UNC, Bulls, HOF) together, so the Bulls print can be collected on its own or as part of the full trio.
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.