Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Luxurious Sounds”?
Artist Statement
42 x 42 Large Format Serigraph. Signed and Numbered Edition of 50. 1 Color printed on Varnished 100% Cotton Rag Archival Paper. Comes with a certificate of authenticity Release Date: Thursday September 11, 2014
Summary
Luxurious Sounds is a 2014 Shepard Fairey large-format serigraph published by Obey Giant. As described in the source, it measures 42 x 42 inches, is a one-color print on varnished 100% cotton rag archival paper, and is signed and numbered in a first edition of 50. It was released on September 11, 2014, at $600 and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. The source assigns a primary theme of collaborations and pop culture with a secondary theme of music and counterculture, placing it among Fairey's music-related large-format works of the period. It is a substantial, statement-scale piece in his graphic style.
Why It Matters
Luxurious Sounds is a large-format, music-themed serigraph that pairs Fairey's graphic vocabulary with his recurring engagement with music and counterculture, as the source's secondary theme indicates. At 42 x 42 inches in a tight edition of 50, signed and numbered with a Certificate of Authenticity, it sits at the flagship end of his 2014 output rather than the accessible tier. The one-color treatment on varnished cotton rag archival paper, per the source, gives it a bold, poster-like presence well suited to a music-oriented display. Fairey's deep ties to music, album art, and counterculture make pieces in this vein especially collectible, and a large-format work in that vein carries added weight. The combination of small edition size, substantial scale, archival materials, and included COA makes it a well-documented and physically commanding object. Compared with his many $45 screen prints of the same year, Luxurious Sounds is a higher-tier work where scarcity, size, and a music-and-counterculture theme reinforce one another, giving it strong appeal for collectors building around Fairey's music-related and large-format output.
Collector Perspective
This appeals to collectors who pursue Fairey's music and counterculture imagery and who want a large, statement-scale work. At 42 x 42 inches the one-color serigraph delivers strong visual impact and commands a wall, making it ideal for a music room or studio. The small edition of 50, archival cotton rag paper, and included Certificate of Authenticity give it flagship-level provenance and scarcity. It fits collections organized around Fairey's music series, his counterculture themes, or his large-format serigraphs. Collectors who value the intersection of Fairey's graphic style with music subjects, and who prioritize limited editions and substantial size, will find this a compelling anchor piece rather than an everyday accessible print.
Historical Context
Released on September 11, 2014, through Obey Giant, Luxurious Sounds belongs to Fairey's large-format serigraph output and connects to his lifelong involvement with music and counterculture, reflected in the source's secondary theme. Its 42 x 42 inch one-color format and edition of 50 mirror other flagship-scale releases from that year, such as his other large-format serigraphs. Fairey's career has long intertwined with punk, rock, and album-art culture, and music-themed prints recur throughout his catalog. Within his arc, this 2014 piece represents the upper, statement-driven tier of his music-related output, distinct from his accessible screen prints and consistent with his practice of issuing limited large-format works.
FAQ
What are the size and edition of Luxurious Sounds?
According to the source, it is a 42 x 42 inch large-format serigraph, one color printed on varnished 100% cotton rag archival paper, signed and numbered in a first edition of 50. It was released on September 11, 2014, at $600 and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.
What is the theme of this print?
The source assigns a primary theme of collaborations and pop culture and a secondary theme of music and counterculture. The title and themes place it among Fairey's music-related works, a recurring subject across his catalog.
Does it include authentication?
Yes. The source states the print comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. Combined with the signed and numbered edition of 50, this gives collectors clear documentation of authenticity and edition position for this large-format work.
How is the print produced?
The source describes it as a one-color large-format serigraph on varnished 100% cotton rag archival paper. The single-color treatment and archival materials give it a bold graphic presence and durable, collectible quality at a substantial 42 x 42 inch scale.
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.