Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Ice-T OG (Red)”?
Artist Statement
There is no doubt about it, Ice-T is a California legend. From a street hustler and thief, who took his moniker from none other than "Iceberg Slim," this dude emerged as one of the most heavily West Coast inspired rappers of all time. When we worked together on his first three album cover and multiple singles, it was always a great collaboration of style, character, and purpose. Ice is a storyteller extraordinaire, a hustler on every respectable level. A true friend and as loyal as they come to those close to him. Respect due to this real icon and player, for telling his stories and sharing the culture in the way only he can. O.G. – Glen E. Friedman Ice-T OG Red. 18 by 24 inches. Screen Print. Signed by Shepard Fairey, Glen E. Friedman, and Ice-T. Edition of 300. $70. Release Date: Tuesday, November 15
Summary
Ice-T OG (Red) is a 2016 screen print by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant in an edition of 300. It measures 18 by 24 inches and was released alongside a Blue colorway. The portrait honors rapper and actor Ice-T, described in the listing by photographer Glen E. Friedman as a California legend and pioneering West Coast rapper. The print grew out of the long collaboration between Fairey, Friedman, and Ice-T, including work on Ice-T's first three album covers and singles. Notably, the print is signed by Shepard Fairey, Glen E. Friedman, and Ice-T himself. Released November 15, 2016, at $70.
Why It Matters
This print sits at the intersection of Fairey's music portraiture and his deep ties to hip-hop and skate-punk counterculture. Ice-T is presented as a foundational West Coast rap figure, and the listing makes clear this is no distant tribute: Fairey, photographer Glen E. Friedman, and Ice-T had a genuine working relationship spanning the rapper's first three album covers and multiple singles. The triple signature, by Fairey, Friedman, and Ice-T, is the standout feature, turning the print into a collaborative document signed by both the artist and his subject, which is uncommon and adds significant collector appeal. As a portrait it extends Fairey's long-running practice of memorializing musical and cultural icons in his bold, high-contrast graphic style. The edition of 300 is moderate within Fairey's output, and the cross-disciplinary pedigree, an artist, a legendary music photographer, and the subject himself, gives it a layered provenance. For Gauntlet Gallery's audience, it is a desirable music-and-portrait piece that bridges fine-art print collecting and hip-hop history, appealing to fans of both Fairey and Ice-T.
Collector Perspective
This print is a natural fit for music-portrait collectors, hip-hop fans, and Fairey enthusiasts who prize works with documented backstory. Its biggest draw is the triple signature by Shepard Fairey, Glen E. Friedman, and Ice-T, which makes it a collaborative, autographed object rather than a single-artist print, a meaningful distinction for autograph-conscious buyers. The 18-by-24-inch portrait format displays easily and pairs well with other music and counterculture pieces. The Red colorway offers a bold alternative to its Blue counterpart, and collectors may pursue both. With an edition of 300, it is moderately scaled within Fairey's catalog. It anchors a collection centered on hip-hop legacy, West Coast culture, and Fairey's music portraiture.
Historical Context
Fairey's roots in skate, punk, and hip-hop culture run throughout his career, and his collaboration with photographer Glen E. Friedman, who documented that world, connects him directly to artists like Ice-T. The listing notes Fairey's involvement with Ice-T's first three album covers and singles, underscoring a long-standing creative relationship rather than a one-off homage. Released in 2016, this portrait belongs to Fairey's mature phase of music tributes, in which he repeatedly rendered influential musicians in his signature graphic style. The participation and signature of Ice-T himself, alongside Friedman, situates the work within Fairey's tradition of collaborative, culturally embedded portraiture. It reflects his ongoing project of memorializing the figures who shaped the counterculture he came from.
FAQ
Who signed this print?
Per the listing, Ice-T OG (Red) is signed by Shepard Fairey, photographer Glen E. Friedman, and Ice-T himself. This triple signature makes it a collaborative, autographed work signed by both the artists and the subject.
What is the connection between Fairey, Friedman, and Ice-T?
The listing describes a long collaboration: Fairey and Friedman worked with Ice-T on his first three album covers and multiple singles. The print celebrates Ice-T as a California rap legend and grew out of that genuine working relationship.
What are the size, edition, and colorways?
It measures 18 by 24 inches and is a screen print in an edition of 300, published by Obey Giant in 2016 at $70. It was released in two colorways, Red and Blue, with a release date of November 15.
Who is the subject?
The subject is Ice-T, described in the listing as a California legend and one of the most West Coast-inspired rappers of all time, a storyteller who emerged from a street background to shape hip-hop culture.
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.