Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Sun Paper Print”?
Summary
Sun Paper Print is a 2009 Shepard Fairey screen print released through Obey Giant. It is a first edition of 450, measuring 24 by 18 inches, and was priced at $45 on release. Beyond the title, edition data, and medium, the record carries no descriptive text, so the specific imagery and message are not documented here. It belongs to Fairey's run of 2009 Obey Giant editioned screen prints. Treat this entry as a sparsely sourced catalog record: the concrete facts are the year, the screen-print medium, the 24-by-18-inch format, and the numbered edition of 450.
Why It Matters
Sun Paper Print sits within Shepard Fairey's prolific 2009 output, a year when Obey Giant issued a steady stream of mid-size, affordably priced screen prints aimed at a broad collector base. Its edition of 450 and original $45 price point reflect the accessible-multiple model that helped Fairey build one of the largest collector followings in contemporary street art. Because this record lacks a description, its specific subject and message cannot be responsibly characterized here, and any claim about iconography would be speculation. What can be said is that it is a hand-pulled screen print, signed-and-numbered format being typical of this Obey Giant series, and that it shares release timing and production scale with a cluster of other 2009 editions. For collectors, the appeal is completeness within a year-set and the value of owning a documented, modestly editioned Fairey screen print. Its importance relative to Fairey's landmark political works is modest, and this enrichment is deliberately cautious given the limited source data.
Collector Perspective
This print suits collectors assembling a comprehensive run of Fairey's 2009 Obey Giant screen prints, or those who want an affordable, modestly editioned hand-pulled work rather than a marquee political piece. The 24-by-18-inch format is a practical, frame-friendly size for home or office display. With an edition of 450, it is neither scarce nor common, making it a reasonable entry-level acquisition. Buyers focused on iconic imagery may prefer Fairey's better-documented portraits, but those valuing breadth and series completeness will appreciate slotting this work alongside its 2009 stablemates. Given the absence of a description in the source, prospective buyers should verify the actual imagery and condition before purchase.
Historical Context
Sun Paper Print dates to October 2009, placing it in the period immediately following Fairey's breakout Obama "Hope" moment, when Obey Giant was releasing frequent editioned screen prints to a rapidly expanding audience. This stretch of Fairey's career is defined by high output, consistent screen-print production, and accessible pricing rather than by single landmark images. The print belongs to a tight cluster of late-2009 Obey Giant editions that share format and scale. Without descriptive source text, its precise thematic role cannot be pinned down, so it is best understood as part of the broader body of Fairey's late-2000s studio multiples rather than as a standalone statement piece.
FAQ
What is Sun Paper Print and when was it released?
It is a Shepard Fairey screen print published by Obey Giant in 2009, with a release date of October 13, 2009. It is catalogued as a first edition and is part of Fairey's steady run of 2009 Obey Giant studio multiples.
What is the edition size and format?
Sun Paper Print is a first edition of 450, measuring 24 by 18 inches. The medium is screen print. These figures come directly from the catalog record, which does not include further descriptive detail about the imagery.
How much did it cost originally?
The recorded original price was $45 at release in 2009. This reflects the accessible price point typical of Obey Giant's mid-size editioned screen prints from this period. Current market value is not part of this record.
Why is the description limited?
The source record for this print includes the title, edition, dimensions, medium, and price but no written description of the artwork. As a result, the specific subject and message are not documented here, and any characterization of the imagery would be speculative.
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.