Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “St. Marks Horses (First Edition)”?
Artist Statement
St.Marks Horses. Screenprint, numberred & signed by Shepard Fairey. 70x91 cm, edition: 250 € 895
Summary
St. Marks Horses (First Edition) is a 2011 screen print by Shepard Fairey, numbered and signed, published by GO Gallery in an edition of 250 measuring 70 x 91 cm and priced at 895 euros. The source provides edition, size, date, publisher, and price but offers only a brief description without detail on the imagery or subject. Released October 28, 2011, it is a larger-format European-published print, distinguished within Fairey's 2011 output by its GO Gallery provenance and its metric dimensions rather than the standard Obey Giant format.
Why It Matters
St. Marks Horses (First Edition) stands out among Fairey's 2011 releases for its European publication through GO Gallery rather than Obey Giant, and for its larger 70 x 91 cm format. The GO Gallery provenance places it within Fairey's international distribution network and his relationships with overseas galleries, an important dimension of his market presence beyond his US self-published editions. Priced in euros at 895 and issued in an edition of 250, it is positioned as a more substantial gallery print than his accessible domestic drops, with a higher price point reflecting its scale and channel. Because the source description is brief and does not detail the imagery, claims about its specific subject or message would be speculative; its significance is best grounded in its edition structure, large format, and gallery origin. For collectors, the European provenance and the larger metric dimensions differentiate it from the bulk of Fairey's same-format Obey Giant prints, giving it a distinct collecting identity. It illustrates how Fairey worked across multiple publishers and markets in a single year, and how gallery-channel editions occupied a higher tier than his broadly accessible self-published releases.
Collector Perspective
St. Marks Horses appeals to collectors interested in Fairey's European, gallery-published editions and those who favor larger-format works for display. Its 70 x 91 cm size gives it more wall presence than his standard prints, suiting buyers seeking a statement piece. The GO Gallery provenance and euro pricing make it especially relevant to European collectors and to those tracking Fairey's international distribution. At an edition of 250 and a higher price point, it sits above his accessible domestic drops, appealing to buyers who value scale and gallery origin. With limited descriptive source data, collectors will likely respond to its format and provenance and assess the imagery in person.
Historical Context
St. Marks Horses (First Edition) belongs to Fairey's 2011 output but stands apart through its publication by GO Gallery, an Amsterdam-based gallery, rather than his own Obey Giant imprint. This reflects his network of international gallery relationships and the parallel European distribution channel that complemented his US self-published editions during this era. Its larger metric format and euro pricing mark it as a gallery-tier release. With only a brief source description, its historical placement is best framed by its provenance and scale rather than specific imagery, illustrating how Fairey's catalogue in this period spanned multiple publishers, markets, and price tiers.
FAQ
Who published St. Marks Horses?
It was published by GO Gallery rather than Obey Giant, distinguishing it as a European gallery-channel release. It is a screen print, numbered and signed by Shepard Fairey, released on October 28, 2011.
What are the print's dimensions and edition?
The print measures 70 x 91 cm in an edition of 250, priced at 895 euros. Its larger metric format and euro pricing set it apart from Fairey's standard US Obey Giant editions of the same period.
What is the subject of the print?
The source record provides only a brief description and does not detail the imagery or subject. Its documented identity rests on its edition, format, publisher, and the collaborations and pop-culture theme assigned in the record.
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.