Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Rebel Waltz (Large Format)”?
Artist Statement
Serigraph, Signed and Numbered Edition of 50. Printed on 100% cotton rag archival paper with deckled edges 54 x 38 inches $550.00
Summary
Rebel Waltz is a 2011 large-format serigraph by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant in a signed and numbered edition of 50. The screen print measures 54 x 38 inches and is printed on 100% cotton rag archival paper with deckled edges. The source ties it to collaboration and pop-culture themes. Larger and in a slightly higher edition than the concurrent 42 x 42 inch square prints, its vertical format, archival stock, and limited edition place it among Fairey's deluxe, gallery-scale 2011 releases rather than his high-volume poster output.
Why It Matters
Rebel Waltz is among the most imposing of Fairey's 2011 large-format serigraphs, distinguished by its tall 54 x 38 inch vertical format, which sets it apart from the 42 x 42 inch square prints released alongside it. With a signed and numbered edition of 50, it remains genuinely scarce while offering more presence than almost any standard poster in Fairey's catalog. The source links it to pop-culture collaboration, and the title's musical, rebellious connotation aligns with the music and counterculture currents that run through Fairey's work. For collectors, the appeal lies in scale: at over four and a half feet tall, it is a commanding statement object printed on archival cotton rag with deckled edges, materials that signal the deluxe, gallery-oriented end of his production. It belongs to a recognizable 2011 large-format network including the album-cover suite and the May releases, making it a natural companion piece for series-focused collectors. Rebel Waltz rewards buyers who prioritize dramatic scale and the formal craft of large serigraphy, occupying a premium tier within Fairey's prolific 2011 output where size, archival quality, and a small edition combine.
Collector Perspective
Rebel Waltz suits collectors who want the most dramatic scale available among Fairey's 2011 large formats. Its tall 54 x 38 inch vertical orientation demands significant wall height and reads as a true centerpiece, appealing to buyers furnishing larger spaces or anchoring a collection. The pop-culture and music-adjacent associations fit collections built around Fairey's counterculture and music imagery, and its 2011 large-format identity connects it to the album-cover suite for series-builders. With an edition of 50 on archival cotton rag, it pairs scarcity with the formal craft of large serigraphy, making it a premium acquisition for collectors who value scale, materials, and a recognizable graphic statement.
Historical Context
Released in 2011, Rebel Waltz belongs to Fairey's spring run of large-format serigraphs from Obey Giant, distinguished from the concurrent square prints by its tall 54 x 38 inch vertical format and edition of 50. By this period Fairey routinely produced deluxe, gallery-scale editions alongside accessible posters, and the work's scale reflects his growing emphasis on ambitious printmaking. The source associates it with pop-culture collaboration, and the title evokes the music and counterculture themes recurrent in his practice. The vertical format, cotton rag archival paper, deckled edges, and limited edition exemplify the refined, collector-oriented printmaking that characterizes his mature output.
FAQ
What is the edition size of Rebel Waltz (Large Format)?
It is a signed and numbered edition of 50, published by Obey Giant. This small edition makes it scarce relative to Fairey's standard poster runs, while its large scale marks it as a deluxe, gallery-oriented work.
What are the dimensions and materials?
The serigraph measures 54 x 38 inches and is printed on 100% cotton rag archival paper with deckled edges. Its tall vertical format makes it one of the most imposing prints in Fairey's 2011 large-format group, standing over four and a half feet high.
How does it differ from the 2011 album-cover prints?
Unlike the 42 x 42 inch square album-cover serigraphs released alongside it, Rebel Waltz is a tall 54 x 38 inch vertical work in an edition of 50 rather than 40, making it larger and slightly more numerous within the same 2011 large-format family.
When was it released?
Rebel Waltz was released in 2011 as part of Fairey's spring run of large-format serigraphs from Obey Giant, alongside the square album-cover prints and the May releases.
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.