Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Enchanting Sounds Album Cover (Large Format)”?
Artist Statement
Serigraph, Signed and Numbered Edition of 40. Printed on 100% cotton rag archival paper with deckled edges, 42 x 42 inches. $500. Release Date: 4/28/11
Summary
Enchanting Sounds Album Cover (Large Format) is a 2011 Shepard Fairey serigraph published by Obey Giant, released April 28, 2011 in a signed and numbered large-format edition of 40 at 42 x 42 inches, priced at $500. It is printed on 100% cotton rag archival paper with deckled edges. The square album-cover format and music-themed title place it within Fairey's coordinated large-format album-cover suite. Its small edition, large scale, and premium materials set it apart from his standard 18 x 24 inch editions, marking it as a high-end, gallery-grade release.
Why It Matters
Enchanting Sounds Album Cover is part of Fairey's premium 2011 large-format album-cover series, oversized square serigraphs issued in tight editions of 40 on archival cotton rag. The music-centric title and album-sleeve format foreground Fairey's deep, career-long engagement with music culture, an influence rooted in punk and hip-hop that runs throughout his graphic practice. At 42 x 42 inches, the work operates as a bold statement piece, and the edition of 40 makes it considerably scarcer than the hundreds-strong runs Fairey typically released. The deckled-edge cotton rag paper signals a deliberate move toward collector-grade, gallery-quality production. Within the suite, each cover functions like a fictional record sleeve, and owning one, or several, lets collectors assemble a conceptual discography of Fairey imagery. For collectors, the appeal lies in the convergence of scale, scarcity, materials, and the music theme: a large, limited, high-quality serigraph that anchors a wall and signals investment in Fairey's more rarefied output. It contrasts sharply with the accessible billboard editions he was issuing the same spring, representing the upper tier of his 2011 program.
Collector Perspective
This appeals to collectors who want a large-scale centerpiece and to those focused on Fairey's music-related imagery, given its album-cover format and 'Enchanting Sounds' title. The 42 x 42 inch size and edition of just 40 on archival cotton rag make it a premium, gallery-grade acquisition rather than an entry-level print. Music-art collectors and admirers of his record-sleeve aesthetic will find it especially fitting. As one of a coordinated large-format suite, it suits buyers assembling that series or seeking a dominant wall statement. Its small edition and quality materials place it among Fairey's higher-tier releases, rewarding collectors with the space and budget to feature it.
Historical Context
Enchanting Sounds Album Cover (Large Format) is one of a 2011 suite of oversized album-cover serigraphs Fairey issued in editions of 40, representing the premium end of his print program that year. The album-cover concept reflects his enduring immersion in music culture and record-sleeve design, a sensibility shaped by the punk and hip-hop scenes that influenced his graphic vocabulary. The use of 100% cotton rag archival paper with deckled edges, the large 42 x 42 inch scale, and the small edition all signal an intent to produce collector-grade objects. Released the same day as several companion covers, it underscores how Fairey balanced accessible mass-edition releases with deliberately rarefied, gallery-quality suites within a single prolific 2011 calendar.
FAQ
How large is the edition for Enchanting Sounds Album Cover?
It is a signed and numbered large-format edition of just 40. The serigraph measures 42 x 42 inches and was released by Obey Giant on April 28, 2011, at a price of $500, making it one of Fairey's scarcer, higher-tier releases.
What materials is it printed on?
According to the source, it is printed on 100% cotton rag archival paper with deckled edges at 42 x 42 inches. These premium materials, paired with the edition of 40, mark it as a collector-grade, gallery-quality serigraph rather than a standard accessible print.
Is this part of a series?
Yes. It is one of a 2011 suite of large-format album-cover serigraphs, all issued in editions of 40 at 42 x 42 inches, including the Lotus, Nouveau, Megaphone, Jukebox, and Printing Press covers released around the same date.
What is the theme of the print?
The album-cover format and 'Enchanting Sounds' title connect it to Fairey's longstanding engagement with music culture and record-sleeve design. The source lists collaborations/pop culture as primary and music and counterculture as the secondary theme.
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.