Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Disposable Heroes (Obey Giant Version)”?
Artist Statement
Released for the Metallica "Obey Your Master" show in Los Angeles New edition of 450, 18"x24", signed and numbered by Shepard Fairey.
Summary
Disposable Heroes (Obey Giant Version) is a 2012 print by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant and released February 7, 2012. It is an 18 x 24 inch edition of 450, signed and numbered by the artist, originally $40. Per the source, it was released for the Metallica "Obey Your Master" show in Los Angeles, and exists in an Exhibit A Edition and this Obey Giant Version. The work ties Fairey's OBEY iconography to a Metallica-themed event, blending his graphic poster style with music-related subject matter for the exhibition.
Why It Matters
Disposable Heroes (Obey Giant Version) connects Fairey's OBEY iconography to one of music's most influential metal bands, having been released for the Metallica "Obey Your Master" show in Los Angeles. The title nods to Metallica's own song, and the exhibition framing places the print at the intersection of Fairey's art and the music world he frequently engages. The existence of two distinct versions, an Exhibit A Edition and this Obey Giant Version, gives collectors parallel options tied to the same event, a structure that rewards completist acquisition. At an edition of 450 and an original $40, it was an accessible release, consistent with Fairey's model of attaching editions to live shows and exhibitions. For collectors, the appeal lies in the documented Metallica show provenance and the music-culture crossover, which distinguish it from his purely iconographic editions. Because the source centers on the event and edition structure rather than detailing the imagery's argument, interpretive claims should stay measured. Still, the print exemplifies how Fairey leverages music collaborations and event-tied releases to extend his reach, producing affordable signed editions that double as artifacts of a specific concert and exhibition moment in early 2012.
Collector Perspective
This print appeals to collectors at the crossroads of Fairey's art and music fandom, particularly Metallica and music-poster collectors, as well as those who track his event-tied editions. The release for the Metallica "Obey Your Master" show gives it concert and exhibition provenance that adds narrative value. The two-version structure, an Exhibit A Edition and this Obey Giant Version, invites comparison and set collecting. At an edition of 450 and an original $40, it is among the more affordable entries for a music-themed Fairey grouping. The 18 x 24 inch format displays well alongside other OBEY and music prints. Buyers tend to value the Metallica tie, the version, the signature, and condition.
Historical Context
Released in February 2012 for the Metallica "Obey Your Master" show in Los Angeles, Disposable Heroes reflects Fairey's recurring practice of producing editions tied to live music events and exhibitions. The print's two versions, an Exhibit A Edition and this Obey Giant Version, illustrate how he often issues parallel editions around a single event. Within his arc, it belongs to the music-and-OBEY crossover strand of his early-2010s output, alongside his many band collaborations and concert-related prints. The exhibition framing and affordable price reflect the event-driven, accessible model Obey Giant used during this period. The source's focus on the show and edition structure keeps deeper interpretive claims cautious, but its place in his music-tied catalog is clear.
FAQ
What event was Disposable Heroes released for?
Per the source, the print was released for the Metallica "Obey Your Master" show in Los Angeles. This ties the edition to a specific concert and exhibition event, giving it music-world provenance within Fairey's catalog.
What versions of the print exist?
The source lists an Exhibit A Edition and an Obey Giant Version. This record is the Obey Giant Version, a new edition of 450 signed and numbered by Shepard Fairey, offering collectors parallel options tied to the same release.
What is the format and edition size?
Disposable Heroes (Obey Giant Version) is an 18 x 24 inch print in an edition of 450, signed and numbered by the artist. It was published by Obey Giant and released on February 7, 2012.
What was the original price?
According to the source, the print originally retailed for $40, making it one of the more affordable signed and numbered editions in Fairey's early-2012 release schedule.
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.