Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Power & Glory Letterpress”?
Artist Statement
Power and Glory Letterpress 100% cotton archival paper with deckled edges. Signed and numbered edition of 450. 10 inches by 13 inches. OBEY publishing chop on bottom left corner. $65.
Summary
Power & Glory Letterpress is a 2016 Shepard Fairey letterpress print, 10 x 13 inches, published by Obey Giant in a signed and numbered first edition of 450. The source describes it as printed on 100% cotton archival paper with deckled edges, carrying the OBEY publishing chop in the bottom left corner, at an original price of $65. The work's title and theme center on power, aligning with Fairey's recurring consumerism-and-power imagery. As a small-format letterpress on archival cotton stock, it represents the more refined, craft-oriented tier of Fairey's print output while continuing his critique of power and influence.
Why It Matters
Power & Glory Letterpress showcases the craft-focused side of Fairey's production, using letterpress on 100% cotton archival paper with deckled edges and the OBEY publishing chop, details the source specifies. Letterpress printing gives the work a tactile, fine-press quality distinct from his screen prints, appealing to collectors who value materials and technique. Thematically the title ties it to Fairey's enduring consumerism-and-power motif, a thread running through much of his work that interrogates authority, wealth, and influence. With a signed and numbered first edition of 450, it is collectible while remaining accessible. The smaller 10 x 13 inch format makes it an approachable, framable piece that still carries the OBEY pedigree and chop mark collectors look for. For those building a set around Fairey's power-themed imagery or his letterpress editions specifically, this print is a strong representative example, combining a recognizable theme, archival-quality production, and the documented edition details that support its standing as a deliberate, collectible object.
Collector Perspective
This print suits collectors who appreciate Fairey's letterpress editions and his consumerism-and-power theme. The 100% cotton archival paper, deckled edges, and OBEY publishing chop appeal to those who value fine-press craft, and the signed and numbered edition of 450 keeps it both collectible and accessible. Its compact 10 x 13 inch size makes it easy to frame and display, ideal for collectors with limited wall space or those grouping smaller letterpress works. It fits naturally alongside Fairey's other power-themed and letterpress prints and pairs well with the related Endless Power and Palace Of Power pieces. The documented archival materials and chop mark give collectors confidence in its production quality.
Historical Context
Power & Glory Letterpress, released in 2016 and published by Obey Giant, reflects Fairey's continued use of letterpress as a refined complement to his screen-print output. Printed on cotton archival paper with deckled edges and bearing the OBEY publishing chop, it shows his attention to fine-press craft during this period. Thematically it extends his long-running examination of power, wealth, and influence, a concern central to his consumerism-and-power imagery. As a signed and numbered letterpress edition of 450, it represents a deliberate, craft-oriented strand of his mid-2010s work, offering collectors a tactile, archival-quality version of his power iconography rather than the bolder format of his large screen prints.
FAQ
What is the edition size of Power & Glory Letterpress?
It is a signed and numbered first edition of 450, published by Obey Giant in 2016. The print measures 10 x 13 inches and had an original price of $65.
What paper and printing process is used?
It is a letterpress print on 100% cotton archival paper with deckled edges. The source notes it carries the OBEY publishing chop in the bottom left corner.
How large is the print?
The print measures 10 inches by 13 inches, a compact format that makes it easy to frame and display.
What theme does it address?
Its title and imagery center on power, aligning with Fairey's recurring consumerism-and-power motif examining authority, wealth, and influence.
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.