What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Smokey Robinson Print (Gold)”?

Artist Statement

$125 edition of 100 Signed by both Shepard and Smokey Releasing on March 18th

Summary

Smokey Robinson Print (Gold) is a 24 x 18 inch screen print published by Obey Giant in 2010, an edition of 100 released March 18, 2010 at $125. The print is signed by both Shepard Fairey and Smokey Robinson, and the Gold variant is one of two colorways (Gold and Red). It presents a portrait of the Motown legend rendered in Fairey's bold, high-contrast graphic style with a metallic gold treatment. As a dual-signed musician portrait, the work pairs Fairey's iconographic portraiture with a living music icon, foregrounding legacy and the celebration of a foundational American songwriter and performer.

Why It Matters

Dual-signed prints, signed by both Fairey and the subject, are a distinct and prized category within his catalog because they carry the authentication and presence of the depicted figure alongside the artist. Smokey Robinson Print (Gold) is one such piece, joining Fairey's portrait to a Motown founder whose songwriting shaped American popular music. The print extends Fairey's long practice of portraying cultural icons in his recognizable propaganda-poster idiom, but here the subject is a celebrated musician rather than a political figure, situating it at the intersection of his music and portrait work. The metallic gold treatment and the comparatively small edition of 100 give it a more premium character than many of his concurrent releases, reflected in its higher original price of $125. For collectors, the combination of a recognizable, beloved subject, dual signatures, a small edition, and a striking gold colorway makes it a standout legacy portrait. It documents Fairey's ongoing engagement with the musicians and cultural figures he admires, and it belongs to a wider thread of his celebratory portraits of icons, distinguishing it from his more confrontational political pieces.

Collector Perspective

This piece appeals to collectors of Fairey's portrait and music work, to Motown and soul-music enthusiasts, and to those who specifically seek dual-signed prints carrying both the artist's and the subject's signature. The gold colorway and high-contrast portrait make it a striking centerpiece that anchors a wall, while its legacy-portrait subject suits collections celebrating music icons. The small edition of 100 and the dual signatures add collectible weight and exclusivity. Color-variant collectors may also pursue the Red version to complete the pairing. At 24 x 18 inches it is a substantial, frame-ready portrait that fits a Fairey collection organized around portraits, music, and cultural legacy.

Historical Context

Released March 18, 2010, Smokey Robinson Print (Gold) sits within Fairey's productive 2010 run of music and portrait collaborations. It reflects his recurring practice of honoring living cultural icons through his graphic portrait language, a thread that runs throughout his career. The dual-signature format ties the work directly to its subject, a hallmark of Fairey's collaborations with musicians and public figures. Within his arc, the print belongs alongside other 2010 to 2011 musician portraits and canvas prints, reinforcing the period's emphasis on celebrating the figures of music history. It demonstrates how Fairey applies the same iconographic treatment he uses for political subjects to figures he admires from popular culture.

FAQ

Related Works

Friendship And Support (Gold)2011 · Another Gold-colorway collaboration print from the adjacent period in the same series.

John & Yoko Canvas2010 · Concurrent 2010 music-icon portrait piece celebrating legendary musicians.

Keith Haring Canvas Print (Green)2010 · 2010 cultural-icon portrait print sharing the legacy-portrait approach.

Attack In Black (Large Format)2011 · Adjacent-period Obey Giant release within the same collaborations grouping.

Urban Roots2011 · 2011 Obey Giant print from the same catalog cluster.