Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Nouveau 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
Nouveau 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. It is printed on 100% cotton rag archival paper with deckled edges. The square album-cover format places it within Fairey's coordinated large-format album-cover suite, and the 'Nouveau' title points toward the Art-Nouveau-inflected decorative styling that recurs in his work. Its small edition, large scale, and premium materials distinguish it as a high-end, gallery-grade release. (Source lists conflicting price figures of $400 and $500.)
Why It Matters
Nouveau Album Cover belongs to Fairey's premium 2011 large-format album-cover series, oversized square serigraphs issued in tight editions of 40 on archival cotton rag paper. The 'Nouveau' title nods to Art Nouveau, the decorative, ornamental tradition whose flowing lines and patterned framing strongly inform Fairey's visual language, making this an especially clear expression of that influence within the suite. At 42 x 42 inches, the work functions as a statement piece, and the edition of 40 makes it markedly scarcer than Fairey's standard hundreds-strong runs. The deckled-edge cotton rag stock signals collector-grade, gallery-quality production. As part of a cohesive album-cover suite, it lets collectors build a conceptual set of Fairey record-sleeve imagery. For collectors, the value lies in the combination of scale, scarcity, premium materials, and the overt Art-Nouveau styling that makes this title's decorative DNA explicit. It rewards serious buyers seeking a centerpiece from the upper tier of Fairey's 2011 output, standing in deliberate contrast to the accessible billboard editions he released the same spring.
Collector Perspective
This suits collectors seeking a large statement piece and those drawn to the decorative, Art-Nouveau-inflected side of Fairey's work that the 'Nouveau' title foregrounds. At 42 x 42 inches with an edition of only 40 on archival cotton rag, it is a premium, gallery-grade acquisition rather than an entry-level print. Collectors assembling the coordinated large-format album-cover suite will want it as a key component. Its bold scale makes it a dominant wall feature for those with the space. The small edition and quality materials place it among Fairey's higher-tier releases, appealing to buyers who value ornamental styling and prize scarcity within his catalog.
Historical Context
Nouveau Album Cover (Large Format) is part of a 2011 suite of oversized album-cover serigraphs Fairey issued in editions of 40, occupying the premium end of his print program that year. The 'Nouveau' title underscores his debt to Art Nouveau, whose decorative line work and ornamental patterning have long shaped his graphic style. The album-cover framing reflects his immersion in music and record-sleeve aesthetics, while the 100% cotton rag archival paper with deckled edges signals an intent toward collector-grade production. Released the same day as several companion covers, it demonstrates how Fairey paired accessible mass editions with deliberately limited, gallery-quality suites in a single prolific year, situating this piece firmly in the more rarefied stratum of his 2011 output.
FAQ
How large is the edition for Nouveau 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, placing it among Fairey's scarcer, premium-tier releases from that year.
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, combined with the small edition of 40, position it as a collector-grade, gallery-quality serigraph.
What does the 'Nouveau' title suggest?
The title points to Art Nouveau, the decorative tradition whose flowing, ornamental styling has long influenced Fairey's graphic work. Within the album-cover suite, this makes it a clear expression of his decorative, pattern-driven visual vocabulary.
Is this part of a series?
Yes. It belongs to a 2011 suite of large-format album-cover serigraphs, all issued in editions of 40 at 42 x 42 inches, including the Lotus, Megaphone, Jukebox, Printing Press, and Enchanting Sounds covers released around the same date.
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.