Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Friendship And Support (Gold)”?
Artist Statement
Due to the enormous popular demand of “Friendship & Support” released last week, we are excited to announce a second colorway at the request of the Harrison Foundation! “Friendship and Support – Gold”, will release for sale on August 23rd at a random time. Thank you for supporting UNICEF! 18 x 24? Screen Print, Signed and Numbered Edition of 450. $65 each, limit 1 per person/household. Proceeds go to UNICEF. Photo by Henry Diltz Release date: 8/23/2011
Summary
Friendship And Support (Gold) is a 2011 signed and numbered screen print by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant in an edition of 450 measuring 18 x 24 inches. It is a second, gold colorway of the earlier Friendship & Support release, issued at the request of the Harrison Foundation with proceeds benefiting UNICEF. The image draws on a photograph by Henry Diltz. Priced at $65 with a limit of one per person, it released on August 23, 2011. The gold colorway carries the same composition as the original red version while offering collectors a distinct palette for a benefit-driven print.
Why It Matters
Friendship And Support (Gold) sits at the intersection of Fairey's collaborative and benefit-print practice, a recurring strand of his Obey Giant output where editions are tied directly to philanthropic causes. Released through the Harrison Foundation in support of UNICEF, the print demonstrates how Fairey uses the accessible screen-print format and a modest $65 price to channel collector demand toward charitable ends. The gold colorway specifically answered popular demand following the original release the prior week, showing how Fairey responds to his audience by issuing alternate palettes of a successful image. For collectors, this dual-colorway structure creates natural set-building appeal: owning both the red and gold versions completes the pair. The use of a Henry Diltz photograph as a base also ties the work to a broader lineage of photo-derived portraiture in Fairey's catalogue. At an edition of 450, it is a moderately sized release rather than a scarce one, but its benefit context and colorway distinction give it identity beyond a routine drop. It exemplifies the cause-linked, audience-responsive editions that define much of Fairey's 2011 output.
Collector Perspective
This print appeals to collectors who value cause-linked editions and who enjoy completing colorway pairs, since it is the gold companion to the original red Friendship & Support. Its 18 x 24 inch format is easy to frame and display alongside other Obey Giant prints of the same dimensions, making it a practical fit for a wall grouping. Buyers drawn to the philanthropic dimension, given the UNICEF proceeds, will see added meaning in ownership. Signed and numbered in an edition of 450, it offers an accessible entry point for newer collectors while still carrying the hand-finished hallmarks serious buyers look for. Those building a thematic collection around Fairey's collaborative and benefit prints will find it a coherent addition.
Historical Context
Friendship And Support (Gold) belongs to Fairey's prolific 2011 run of Obey Giant editions, a period in which he frequently paired print releases with advocacy and charitable causes. Issued through the Harrison Foundation with UNICEF proceeds, it reflects the maturation of his benefit-print model, where the screen-print medium serves as a fundraising vehicle as much as an art object. The decision to release a second gold colorway in direct response to demand for the original red version illustrates Fairey's responsiveness to his collector base during this era. Built from a Henry Diltz photograph, it also connects to his ongoing use of documentary and music-world imagery as source material. Within his arc, this print typifies the cause-aligned, audience-driven editions that characterized his Obey Giant practice in the early 2010s.
FAQ
What is the edition size of Friendship And Support (Gold)?
It is a signed and numbered screen print in an edition of 450, published by Obey Giant in 2011. Each print measures 18 x 24 inches and was sold for $65 with a limit of one per person or household at its August 23, 2011 release.
How does the gold version differ from the original?
The gold colorway was released as a second color version of the earlier Friendship & Support print, issued at the request of the Harrison Foundation in response to strong popular demand for the original red release the previous week. It shares the same composition in a distinct gold palette.
What cause did this print support?
Proceeds from Friendship And Support (Gold) went to UNICEF, with the release organized in partnership with the Harrison Foundation. The print is part of Fairey's broader practice of tying signed editions to charitable causes.
Who created the source photograph?
The print's image is based on a photograph credited to Henry Diltz, a noted music and documentary photographer, used as the base for Fairey's screen-printed design.
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.