Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Re-Elect Sheriff Joe Arpaio”?
Artist Statement
RE-ELECT SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO Collaboration between Shepard Fairey and Ernesto Yerena 30 x 38 inches, Printed on 100% cotton rag archival paper Edition of 108 (only 42 available) Hand Printed at Self Help Graphics by Master Printer Jose Alpuche Signed by Shepard and Ernesto $200 ON SALE 9/22/11
Summary
Re-Elect Sheriff Joe Arpaio is a 2011 collaboration between Shepard Fairey and Ernesto Yerena, published by Obey Giant as a screen print measuring 30 x 38 inches on 100% cotton rag archival paper. It was hand printed at Self Help Graphics by master printer Jose Alpuche in an edition of 108, with only 42 made available, and is signed by both Shepard and Ernesto. Priced at $200, it released on September 22, 2011. The large-format print uses a mock campaign-poster format to satirize the controversial Arizona sheriff, channeling political critique through appropriated electioneering visual language.
Why It Matters
Re-Elect Sheriff Joe Arpaio is a pointed example of Fairey's politically confrontational collaborations with Ernesto Yerena, a partnership rooted in immigrant-rights and Latino activism in the American Southwest. By adopting the visual grammar of a campaign re-election poster and turning it against its subject, the print weaponizes propaganda aesthetics for satire, a hallmark of Fairey's appropriationist strategy. Its production at Self Help Graphics, a historic East LA print workshop with deep ties to Chicano art and activism, anchors the work in a specific community-art lineage rather than a purely commercial release. The hand printing by master printer Jose Alpuche and the dual signatures of Fairey and Yerena underscore its status as a serious collaborative object. With an edition of only 108 and just 42 made available, it is among the scarcer releases of this period, and its large 30 x 38 inch format on archival cotton rag gives it gallery presence. The print captures a charged moment in Arizona's immigration politics and demonstrates how Fairey uses collaboration to amplify regional activist voices, making it significant both as protest art and as a document of a specific political flashpoint.
Collector Perspective
This print draws collectors focused on Fairey's political and protest work, particularly those interested in his collaborations with Ernesto Yerena and the immigrant-rights movement. The small edition of 108 with only 42 available makes it more difficult to acquire than typical Obey Giant drops, appealing to buyers who prioritize scarcity. Its large 30 x 38 inch scale and archival cotton rag stock give it strong wall presence and conservation appeal, suiting collectors who want a statement piece. The dual Fairey-Yerena signatures and the Self Help Graphics provenance add depth for those who value collaborative and community-printed works. It fits naturally into a politically themed collection centered on activism and satire.
Historical Context
Re-Elect Sheriff Joe Arpaio belongs to Fairey's politically engaged 2011 output and his ongoing collaboration with Ernesto Yerena, with whom he produced numerous works addressing immigration and Latino civil rights in the Southwest. Printed at Self Help Graphics in East Los Angeles by master printer Jose Alpuche, it situates Fairey within a Chicano print-workshop tradition known for activist art. The piece responds directly to the contentious tenure of Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, using satire to critique his record. As a large-format, small-edition collaboration on archival paper, it reflects how Fairey leveraged partnerships and respected printmaking studios to produce charged political statements during this era of his career.
FAQ
Who collaborated on this print?
Re-Elect Sheriff Joe Arpaio is a collaboration between Shepard Fairey and Ernesto Yerena. It is signed by both Shepard and Ernesto and was hand printed at Self Help Graphics by master printer Jose Alpuche.
How large is the edition?
The edition is 108, with only 42 prints made available for sale. This makes it a relatively scarce release compared with many Obey Giant editions. It sold for $200 at its September 22, 2011 release.
What are the print's specifications?
It is a screen print measuring 30 x 38 inches, printed on 100% cotton rag archival paper. The large format and archival stock distinguish it as a substantial, conservation-grade piece within Fairey's catalogue.
What is the subject of the print?
The print uses a mock campaign re-election poster format addressing Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio. As a Fairey-Yerena collaboration tied to Southwest immigration politics, it applies satirical, propaganda-style visual language to a charged political subject.
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.