Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Dia De Los Muertos (Large Format)”?
Artist Statement
Collaboration with Shepard Fairey. Large Format version of the original Obey Day of the Dead print (18"x24") originally released in 2008. Signed by both Shepard Fairey and Ernesto Yerena. Printed by Modern Multiples on 100% Cotton Coventry Rag paper 290 GSM Print Measures 30"x40" Edition of 75 prints
Summary
Dia De Los Muertos (Large Format) is a 2016 screen print measuring 30 x 40 inches, published by Hecho Con Ganas in an edition of 75 at $400. It is a collaboration between Shepard Fairey and Ernesto Yerena, a large-format version of the original Obey Day of the Dead print (18 x 24 inches) first released in 2008. The print is signed by both Shepard Fairey and Ernesto Yerena, printed by Modern Multiples on 100% Cotton Coventry Rag paper at 290 GSM. It scales up the earlier Day of the Dead imagery into a larger, gallery-scale format for this edition of 75.
Why It Matters
This large-format edition matters as a flagship example of Fairey's long-running collaboration with Ernesto Yerena and of the duo's engagement with Day of the Dead imagery and Mexican-American cultural symbolism. By enlarging the 2008 original to a 30 x 40 inch sheet in a tight edition of 75, the work gives collectors a more imposing, gallery-scale version of an image that had circulated in smaller form, increasing its visual presence and desirability. The dual signature of Fairey and Yerena underscores a genuine creative partnership rather than a solo release, and the production credits, printed by Modern Multiples on heavyweight 100% Cotton Coventry Rag paper, signal a premium fine-art object. Published by Hecho Con Ganas, Yerena's own imprint, it reflects Fairey's practice of working within and amplifying collaborators' platforms. Within his catalog it connects his graphic language to Day of the Dead iconography and to themes of cultural identity and power, distinguishing it from his more overtly political protest prints while still carrying social resonance.
Collector Perspective
This appeals to collectors of Fairey–Yerena collaborations and to those drawn to Day of the Dead and Mexican-American cultural imagery. The large 30 x 40 inch format makes it a commanding display piece, ideal for collectors who want scale and presence rather than a standard 18 x 24 print. With only 75 made on premium Coventry Rag paper and co-signed by both artists, it carries strong appeal for buyers who value collaborative provenance and fine-art production quality. At a $400 issue price it sits above entry-level prints but remains accessible relative to original works. It fits a collection organized around Fairey's collaborations, around cultural-heritage themes, or around large-format statement pieces, and pairs naturally with other Yerena-related releases.
Historical Context
Released in May 2016 through Hecho Con Ganas, this large-format edition revisits the original Obey Day of the Dead print from 2008, reflecting Fairey's enduring collaborative relationship with Ernesto Yerena. The partnership between the two artists spans numerous projects engaging Latino identity, immigration, and cultural symbolism, and this Day of the Dead imagery is a recurring touchstone within that body of work. Printed by Modern Multiples, a Los Angeles screen-printing studio long associated with Chicano art, the edition situates Fairey within a broader tradition of Mexican-American printmaking. Scaling the 2008 image up to 30 x 40 inches for a 2016 release shows how Fairey and Yerena returned to and amplified earlier collaborative imagery for collectors seeking larger, premium versions.
FAQ
Who collaborated on this print?
It is a collaboration between Shepard Fairey and Ernesto Yerena, published by Hecho Con Ganas. The print is signed by both Shepard Fairey and Ernesto Yerena. It was printed by Modern Multiples on 100% Cotton Coventry Rag paper at 290 GSM.
How does this relate to an earlier print?
It is a large-format version of the original Obey Day of the Dead print, which measured 18 by 24 inches and was originally released in 2008. This 2016 edition scales the image up to 30 by 40 inches as a larger fine-art version of the earlier work.
What is the edition size and price?
The edition is limited to 75 prints, with an original issue price of $400. Each print measures 30 by 40 inches and is printed on 290 GSM 100% Cotton Coventry Rag paper, co-signed by both Shepard Fairey and Ernesto Yerena.
Who printed the edition?
The edition was printed by Modern Multiples, a Los Angeles screen-printing studio, on 100% Cotton Coventry Rag paper at 290 GSM. It was published by Hecho Con Ganas in 2016.
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.