Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Misfits 40th (Grave)”?
Artist Statement
The Misfits are a punk rock revelation and a band that have mesmerized me from my first introduction to them in 1985. Being asked to do a Misfits 40th anniversary logo recently was a huge honor, and that art is still available as a t-shirt now on the band's websites – MisfitsOfficialMerch.com and MisfitsRecordsOfficial.com. I'm also very excited that the art is going to be dropping next week as two different variations of fine art screen prints. The Misfits art is pure alchemy genius and the best example of remixing marginal subculture imagery into a cohesive cult brand in history. From horror films, comics, serials, and B-movies the Misfits culled, cut, pasted, inked, and crafted possibly the most recognizable and enduring punk iconography ever. The thing that I love about the classic Misfits imagery is that it is well designed, but has a do-it-yourself charm that is organic and unfussy. I tried to channel this history through my artistic sensibility in the 40th logo and poster. We're releasing two versions of this print – a "Grave" edition and a "Crypt" edition. The Grave edition will be available on my website ObeyGiant.com and the "Crypt" edition will be available on the Misfits stores – MisfitsOfficialMerch.com and MisfitsRecordsOfficial.com. I'll be seeing you again! – Shepard Misfits 40th Grave. 18 x 24 inches. Screenprint on cream Speckle Tone paper. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 450. $50.
Summary
Misfits 40th (Grave) is a 2017 screenprint on cream Speckle Tone paper, 18 x 24 inches, signed by Shepard Fairey and numbered in an edition of 450, published by Obey Giant. Created for the Misfits' 40th anniversary, it reworks the band's classic punk iconography through Fairey's design sensibility. He describes the Misfits' imagery as 'pure alchemy genius,' remixing horror films, comics, and B-movies into enduring punk branding, and notes he aimed to channel its do-it-yourself charm. The print was released as one of two versions, the 'Grave' edition sold through ObeyGiant.com and a companion 'Crypt' edition sold through the band's official stores.
Why It Matters
Misfits 40th (Grave) sits at the intersection of Fairey's lifelong music fandom and his expertise in iconography, making it a meaningful collaboration piece. In his statement, Fairey traces his admiration for the Misfits back to 1985 and calls their visual identity the best example of remixing marginal subculture imagery into a cohesive cult brand in history. That framing matters because branding and iconography are Fairey's own central preoccupations; honoring the Misfits' Crimson Ghost-style imagery is a natural extension of the OBEY project's interest in how images become symbols. The official 40th-anniversary commission gives the print legitimacy and provenance within punk history, while the two-edition structure, Grave through Obey Giant and Crypt through the band, creates a collectible pairing. At an edition of 450 and an accessible original price, it is attainable for music and street-art collectors alike. For those who collect Fairey's band-related work, this print is among his most direct tributes to punk's visual legacy, blending his graphic discipline with the genre's raw DIY energy and documenting a specific milestone in the Misfits' history.
Collector Perspective
This print appeals to two overlapping audiences: Fairey collectors and Misfits or punk-music fans. Its official 40th-anniversary status gives it crossover desirability, making it attractive to buyers who might not otherwise collect fine-art prints. The bold, high-contrast punk imagery displays powerfully and suits music rooms, studios, or collections themed around band art. Signed and numbered in an edition of 450, it is collectible yet attainable. The companion 'Crypt' edition, sold through the band's stores, gives completists a reason to pursue both versions as a set. It groups well with Fairey's other music and band prints, letting collectors build a wall around his rock-and-punk tributes. For fans seeking an authoritative, artist-credited Misfits piece, this is a definitive option.
Historical Context
Misfits 40th (Grave) was made for the band's 40th anniversary and reflects Fairey's deep roots in punk culture, which he dates to discovering the Misfits in 1985. The commission included an anniversary logo, also offered as official merchandise, and two screenprint variations. Within Fairey's career, the work belongs to his long line of music collaborations, where he applies his graphic and propaganda-influenced style to bands he admires. His emphasis on the Misfits as masters of remixing subculture imagery into a cult brand mirrors the conceptual core of his own OBEY project. The dual Grave and Crypt release, split between Obey Giant and the band's stores, illustrates the collaborative distribution model common to his music tributes during this period.
FAQ
What is the difference between the Grave and Crypt editions?
Fairey released two versions of this Misfits 40th print. The Grave edition was sold through his own website, ObeyGiant.com, while the Crypt edition was offered through the band's official stores. Both share the 18 x 24 inch format and the same anniversary artwork.
Why did Fairey make this print?
He was asked to create the Misfits' 40th anniversary logo and poster. A self-described fan since 1985, Fairey called the band's imagery the best example of remixing subculture imagery into a cohesive cult brand, and channeled that history through his own style.
What are the size and edition details?
Misfits 40th (Grave) is a screenprint on cream Speckle Tone paper, 18 x 24 inches, signed by Shepard Fairey and numbered in an edition of 450. It was published by Obey Giant in 2017 at an original price of $50.
Is the artwork available in other forms?
Yes. Fairey noted the 40th anniversary art was also available as a t-shirt through the band's official merchandise sites, in addition to the two fine-art screenprint variations, the Grave and Crypt editions.
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.