Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Lifeguard Not On Duty”?
Artist Statement
Lifeguard Not On Duty Shepard Fairey Screen Print 18 x 24 inches Signed and Numbered Edition of 450 $45
Summary
Lifeguard Not On Duty is a 2014 Shepard Fairey screen print published by Obey Giant. As described in the source, it measures 18 x 24 inches, is signed and numbered in a first edition of 450, and was released at $45. It is a screen print on paper presented in Fairey's standard accessible-print format for the period. The source groups it under collaborations and pop culture, with no further descriptive detail beyond the medium, dimensions, edition, and price, making it one of his compact, frameable affordable releases of that year.
Why It Matters
Lifeguard Not On Duty is a representative example of Fairey's accessible Obey Giant screen-print releases from 2014, issued at $45 in a signed and numbered edition of 450. Works at this tier matter to the broader Fairey market because they made original, authenticated pieces available to a wide audience and form the backbone of many collections. The source provides only the core facts, medium, size, edition, and price, so its significance rests on its place within Fairey's steady 2014 output rather than on a documented political message; the record categorizes it under collaborations and pop culture. For collectors, the value lies in its verifiable provenance: an Obey Giant publication, signed and numbered, in a defined edition. As a compact 18 x 24 inch piece, it slots easily into thematic or chronological groupings of Fairey prints. Because the source supplies no description of the imagery or message, claims about its meaning should remain cautious. Its importance is primarily as an authentic, well-documented entry point from a prolific year rather than as a flagship statement work.
Collector Perspective
This print suits collectors seeking an authentic, signed and numbered Fairey at an accessible price and a compact, easy-to-frame size. The 18 x 24 inch format works well in a home or office and pairs naturally with other 2014 Obey Giant releases of the same dimensions. It fits collections built around breadth of Fairey's output, his accessible-tier prints, or a specific release year. With an edition of 450 it is more about provenance and completeness than scarcity, making it a sensible choice for newer collectors or for those filling out a chronological set. Because the source offers limited descriptive detail, buyers drawn to it tend to value the documented edition and publisher over a specific narrative.
Historical Context
The print belongs to Fairey's prolific 2014 run of Obey Giant screen prints, a year in which he released numerous signed and numbered editions across price tiers. Published by Obey Giant at the accessible $45 level in an edition of 450, it exemplifies his long-standing practice of keeping original work within reach of a broad audience alongside higher-priced large-format and gallery pieces. The source does not tie it to a specific campaign or exhibition, so within his arc it reads as part of the steady studio output of the mid-2010s rather than a landmark, reflecting the consistency of his print program during this period.
FAQ
What are the dimensions and edition size?
According to the source, Lifeguard Not On Duty is an 18 x 24 inch screen print, signed and numbered in a first edition of 450. It was originally released at $45, placing it among Fairey's accessible-tier prints from 2014.
Who published this print?
The source lists Obey Giant as the publisher. This makes it a self-released Fairey edition rather than an outside-publisher collaboration, consistent with his standard accessible screen-print program for the year.
Is the print signed?
Yes. The source states the screen print is signed and numbered in an edition of 450. Each piece carries Fairey's signature and an edition number, in line with his usual practice for limited releases.
What is known about the imagery?
The source provides the title, medium, dimensions, edition, and price but no detailed description of the imagery or message. The record groups it under collaborations and pop culture. Beyond these documented facts, specific interpretation of the image is not supported by the source.
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.