Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Jessica”?
Artist Statement
Print Release on 10/27. The print is an Edition of 475, 18×24, S/N, and is $55. All profits will go to various cancer research organizations.
Summary
Jessica is a 2009 Shepard Fairey screen print published by Obey Giant, released October 27, 2009. It is a signed and numbered first edition of 475, measuring 24 by 18 inches, priced at $55 on release. According to the source, all profits from the print went to various cancer research organizations, giving the release a charitable purpose. It is a hand-pulled screen print in Fairey's accessible-multiple format, distinguished within his 2009 output by its benefit nature.
Why It Matters
Jessica stands out among Fairey's 2009 editions because, per the source, all profits were directed to cancer research organizations, making it a benefit print rather than a routine commercial release. That charitable purpose adds meaning for collectors who value works tied to causes and reflects Fairey's long pattern of using his editions to support social and humanitarian aims. The edition of 475, signed and numbered, sits squarely in his accessible-multiple tradition, and the $55 release price kept it within reach of a broad audience. Because the source frames the work around its fundraising intent rather than a detailed description of the imagery, the print's significance rests most clearly on that benefit context and on its place in Fairey's prolific late-2009 run. For collectors, owning a documented charity edition carries a story beyond the image itself, connecting the piece to a specific philanthropic effort. Its importance relative to Fairey's landmark political works is moderate, but the cause-driven release gives it a distinctive position within the 2009 set.
Collector Perspective
Jessica appeals to collectors drawn to benefit editions and works with a documented charitable purpose, since the source states all profits went to cancer research organizations. That gives the piece a meaningful backstory for buyers who collect around causes or want a Fairey work with philanthropic provenance. The signed-and-numbered edition of 475 and the 24-by-18-inch format make it a frame-friendly, attainable acquisition. It also fits collectors assembling a complete run of Fairey's 2009 Obey Giant releases. While not a marquee political image, its combination of hand-pulled production, signature, and charity context makes it a thoughtful addition rather than a purely decorative one.
Historical Context
Jessica was released in late October 2009, within Fairey's high-output post-"Hope" period when Obey Giant issued frequent editioned screen prints. What sets it apart in that stretch is its benefit structure: the source records that all profits supported cancer research organizations. This continues Fairey's established practice of channeling print sales toward causes and reflects how his platform was increasingly used for fundraising as his audience grew. The print belongs to a tight cluster of late-2009 Obey Giant editions sharing format and scale, and is best understood as part of that productive period with the added dimension of a documented charitable aim.
FAQ
What makes Jessica different from other 2009 Fairey prints?
According to the source, all profits from Jessica went to various cancer research organizations. This benefit purpose distinguishes it from standard commercial Obey Giant releases and gives the print a documented charitable backstory tied to its 2009 release.
What are the edition details?
Jessica is a signed and numbered first edition of 475, measuring 24 by 18 inches. It is a screen print published by Obey Giant and was released on October 27, 2009 at an original price of $55, all per the source record.
Was the print signed and numbered?
Yes. The source describes the edition as S/N, meaning each print was hand-signed and numbered within the edition of 475. This is consistent with Fairey's standard practice for his Obey Giant screen-print editions of this period.
How much did Jessica cost at release?
The recorded release price was $55. With all profits directed to cancer research organizations, the purchase functioned partly as a charitable contribution at the time of release. Current market value is not part of this record.
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.