Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Giant Mustard & Navy (Letterpress)”?
Artist Statement
2 color Letterpress on 100% cotton Lettre paper, 110# with deckled edges. Signed and numbered edition of 400. OBEY publishing chop on left corner. 10 inches x 13 inches, frame ready. Ships flat. $65 Release date: July 17
Summary
Giant Mustard & Navy (Letterpress) is a 2014 Shepard Fairey letterpress print published by Obey Giant. It is a two-color letterpress on 100% cotton Lettre paper, 110# with deckled edges, measuring 10 x 13 inches and frame-ready. The work is a signed and numbered edition of 400 and bears the OBEY publishing chop in the left corner. Centered on Fairey's OBEY iconography, with a secondary tie to collaborations and pop culture, the print renders the signature giant/star motif in a mustard and navy palette using the tactile, embossed letterpress process.
Why It Matters
Giant Mustard & Navy (Letterpress) brings Fairey's foundational OBEY iconography into the craft-oriented letterpress medium, distinguishing it from his more common screen prints. The two-color letterpress on 110# cotton Lettre paper with deckled edges and an OBEY publishing chop emphasizes material quality and tactile, embossed printing, appealing to collectors who value process and finish. The OBEY giant and star motif is among Fairey's most recognizable imagery, tracing back to the visual language that launched his career, so this letterpress treatment offers a fresh, premium presentation of a core symbol. At 10 x 13 inches and frame-ready in an edition of 400, it is an accessible, easy-to-display piece that nonetheless carries the hallmarks of a considered limited edition. The publishing chop adds an authenticity marker prized by OBEY collectors. For buyers, the appeal lies in owning the iconic motif in a distinctive medium and color scheme, in the tactile quality of letterpress, and in the print's natural fit alongside other OBEY icon works. It bridges Fairey's branding heritage and his fine-print craftsmanship.
Collector Perspective
This print suits collectors focused on OBEY iconography and those who appreciate letterpress craft. At 10 x 13 inches, frame-ready with deckled edges, it is an easy, attractive piece for home or office display and a strong representative of the core OBEY motif in a tactile medium. The mustard and navy palette offers a distinctive, decor-friendly color scheme. The edition of 400 and modest scale make it relatively accessible, broadening its audience to newer collectors and OBEY completists alike. The OBEY publishing chop appeals to buyers who value authenticity markers. It fits naturally in a collection of icon-focused works and pairs with Fairey's other letterpress and collage-icon editions.
Historical Context
Giant Mustard & Navy (Letterpress) extends Fairey's lifelong use of the OBEY giant and star iconography, the visual identity rooted in his early sticker and street-art practice, into a refined letterpress edition. The choice of two-color letterpress on cotton Lettre paper with deckled edges and a publishing chop reflects Fairey's mid-2010s interest in diversifying his print media and emphasizing craftsmanship. Within his arc, the work represents the continued commodification and fine-art presentation of his signature brand imagery, translating a motif born on the street into a collectible, gallery-ready object that honors both its origins and contemporary print craft.
FAQ
What makes this print a letterpress rather than a screen print?
It is a two-color letterpress on 100% cotton Lettre paper, 110# with deckled edges. Letterpress yields a tactile, embossed impression distinct from Fairey's more common screen prints, and the record describes it as frame-ready at 10 x 13 inches, shipping flat.
What is the edition size and authentication?
It is a signed and numbered edition of 400, published by Obey Giant in 2014. The record notes an OBEY publishing chop in the left corner, an authenticity marker valued by collectors, with an original price of $65.
What imagery does the print feature?
Source fields center the work on OBEY iconography, with theme signals including obey, giant, and star. It presents Fairey's signature giant and star motif in a mustard and navy two-color palette.
When was it released?
The record gives a release date of July 17, 2014, published by Obey Giant. It belongs to Fairey's 2014 letterpress releases alongside works such as the Chinese Banner letterpress.
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.