Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Dave Chappelle”?
Artist Statement
DAVE CHAPPELLE PRINT I was honored to be asked to do the illustration for Dave Chappelle’s return to New York City, which was used on the t-shirts that he gave his fans at Radio City Music Hall. Dave Chappelle is one of comedy’s greats and I’ve always thought that he is hilarious, but also fiercely intelligent in his subversive critique of social and political structures. Chappelle plays by his own rules and I respect that. If you’re like me and weren’t one of the lucky ones that got to see him perform at Radio City Music Hall this past week, pick up the print that I’m releasing on Wednesday. Hopefully I’ll get to see Chappelle perform live one of these days. -Shepard 18 x 24 inch screen print on Speckletone paper. Signed and numbered edition of 300. Limit 1 per person/household. $50 Available Wednesday June 25, 2014
Summary
Dave Chappelle is a 2014 Shepard Fairey screen print published by Obey Giant, measuring 18 x 24 inches on Speckletone paper. It is a signed and numbered edition of 300. Per Fairey's statement, the illustration was created for Dave Chappelle's return to New York City and was used on t-shirts the comedian gave fans at Radio City Music Hall. Fairey describes admiring Chappelle's comedy and his subversive critique of social and political structures. The portrait-based print honors a major cultural figure and was released with a one-per-household limit.
Why It Matters
Dave Chappelle stands out among Fairey's 2014 output for its direct origin story: Fairey created the illustration for Chappelle's return to New York City, and it appeared on t-shirts the comedian handed to fans at Radio City Music Hall before being released as a print. That documented tie to a specific cultural event gives the work narrative weight beyond a standard studio release. In his statement, Fairey frames Chappelle not only as one of comedy's greats but as 'fiercely intelligent' in his subversive critique of social and political structures, a description that aligns the portrait with Fairey's own long interest in figures who challenge established power. At 18 x 24 inches in an edition of 300 priced at $50, it was a comparatively accessible release, broadening its reach to fans and entry-level collectors. The portrait subject and accessible scale make it a strong gateway piece. Its blend of pop-culture celebrity, social commentary, and a concrete event provenance differentiates it within Fairey's catalog and gives it cross-appeal to comedy and music memorabilia collectors as well as Fairey followers.
Collector Perspective
This print draws a broad audience: Fairey collectors, Dave Chappelle fans, and comedy-memorabilia enthusiasts. At 18 x 24 inches and an original price of $50, it was among Fairey's more accessible releases, making it an approachable entry point and an easy-to-frame portrait for home display. The documented connection to Chappelle's Radio City Music Hall return adds storytelling value that resonates with fans. The edition of 300 is larger than Fairey's small large-format serigraphs, so it favors collectors who want a recognizable portrait subject over extreme scarcity. It fits collections themed around portraits and legacy, pop-culture figures, or Fairey's celebrity-focused work, and pairs with his other portrait and music-personality prints.
Historical Context
Dave Chappelle reflects Fairey's recurring practice of portraying cultural figures he admires, here a comedian he praises for subversive social and political critique. Created for Chappelle's New York City return and used on Radio City Music Hall t-shirts, the print documents a moment of crossover between Fairey's studio and live comedy culture. Within his arc, it extends the portrait tradition that runs through much of his career, applying his screen-print portraiture to a contemporary entertainer rather than a historical or political icon. The accessible edition of 300 and modest scale situate it among his more widely distributed 2014 portrait releases.
FAQ
What is the origin of the Dave Chappelle print?
Per Fairey's statement, he was asked to create the illustration for Dave Chappelle's return to New York City, and it was used on t-shirts the comedian gave fans at Radio City Music Hall. Fairey then released the image as a signed, numbered print.
What are the size, medium, and edition?
It is an 18 x 24 inch screen print on Speckletone paper, issued as a signed and numbered edition of 300. The record lists an original price of $50 with a limit of one per person or household.
Why did Fairey choose Chappelle as a subject?
In his statement, Fairey calls Chappelle one of comedy's greats and praises him as fiercely intelligent in his subversive critique of social and political structures, noting that Chappelle plays by his own rules, which Fairey respects.
When was it released?
The record gives an availability date of Wednesday, June 25, 2014, published by Obey Giant, tied to Chappelle's Radio City Music Hall performance that week.
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.