Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Attack In Black (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. $500.00 Limit 1 per person/household. Release Date: 5/5/2011
Summary
Attack In Black is a 2011 large-format serigraph by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant in a signed and numbered edition of 40. The screen print measures 42 x 42 inches and is printed on 100% cotton rag archival paper with deckled edges, with a limit of one per person or household. The source ties it to collaboration, pop culture, and portrait themes. Its square format, archival stock, and small edition place it among Fairey's deluxe, gallery-scale releases rather than his high-volume poster runs.
Why It Matters
Attack In Black is a deluxe large-format serigraph from Fairey's 2011 output, sharing the 42 x 42 inch square format and tight edition of 40 with his concurrent album-cover suite. The source links it to both pop-culture collaboration and portrait themes, situating it within Fairey's image-driven graphic practice while offering the scale and scarcity that distinguish his large-format editions from his many high-volume poster runs. The one-per-household limit signals the release was managed for broad collector access despite the small edition, a hallmark of Obey Giant's drop model. For collectors, the appeal rests on the combination of a genuinely low edition, archival cotton rag materials with deckled edges, and a commanding square format that reads as a statement object. The print connects to a recognizable network of 2011 large formats, including Bomber, with which it shares a release date, making the two natural companions. Attack In Black rewards buyers who prioritize the craft of screen printing at scale and Fairey's portrait-inflected graphic language, occupying the more refined, collector-oriented end of his prolific 2011 production.
Collector Perspective
Attack In Black suits collectors seeking a large, statement-scale Fairey work with a small edition rather than a common poster. At 42 x 42 inches on deckled cotton rag, it anchors a wall and rewards buyers with the space to display it prominently. Its portrait and pop-culture associations fit collections built around Fairey's image-driven graphic work, and it pairs naturally with Bomber, released the same day, for those assembling the 2011 large-format group. The edition of 40 and one-per-household limit give it scarcity beyond Fairey's larger runs, appealing to collectors who value low editions and the formal craft of large-scale serigraphy.
Historical Context
Released on May 5, 2011, Attack In Black belongs to Fairey's spring 2011 run of large-format serigraphs published by Obey Giant, issued the same day as Bomber. By this period Fairey regularly produced deluxe, gallery-scale editions alongside his accessible poster output. The source associates the work with portrait and pop-culture collaboration themes, consistent with his image-centered graphic practice of the era. The 42 x 42 inch format, cotton rag archival paper, edition of 40, and one-per-household limit reflect both the refined printmaking and the managed drop strategy that defined Obey Giant's mature releases, balancing scarcity with broad collector access.
FAQ
What is the edition size of Attack In Black (Large Format)?
It is a signed and numbered edition of 40, published by Obey Giant. The small edition makes it scarcer than Fairey's standard poster runs, and a one-per-person/household limit applied at release to spread access across collectors.
What are the dimensions and materials?
The serigraph measures 42 x 42 inches and is printed on 100% cotton rag archival paper with deckled edges. The square format and heavyweight archival stock give it a substantial, gallery-scale presentation.
When was it released?
Attack In Black was released on May 5, 2011, the same day as Bomber, as part of Fairey's spring 2011 run of large-format serigraphs from Obey Giant.
Was there a purchase limit?
Yes. The release was limited to one per person or household, a common Obey Giant practice for managing demand on small-edition large-format prints and giving more collectors a chance to acquire one.
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.