Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Debbie Harry, Doom”?
Artist Statement
Debbie Harry, Doom. 13 x 17 inches. Letterpress on 100% cotton archival paper with hand-deckled edges. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 350. $75 per print. $150 per set
Summary
Debbie Harry, Doom is a 2017 letterpress print published by Obey Giant, measuring 13 x 17 inches on 100% cotton archival paper with hand-deckled edges. It is a first edition of 350, signed by Shepard Fairey, with an original price of $75 per print or $150 per set. The print portrays Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry, a recurring music-icon subject in Fairey's work, rendered in his bold graphic portrait style. As the source notes a set price, the work is designed to pair with a companion Debbie Harry print. Released August 12, 2017.
Why It Matters
Debbie Harry, Doom continues Fairey's long engagement with music icons, depicting the Blondie frontwoman who stands among the most influential figures of the punk and new-wave eras. Fairey, whose own visual sensibility was shaped by punk and rock culture, has returned to Debbie Harry as a subject across multiple years, and this 2017 letterpress treatment adds a new chapter to that thread. The source's set pricing indicates the print is conceived as part of a pair, so collectors who acquire both the Doom and the companion image gain a more complete statement. The letterpress medium on 100% cotton archival paper with hand-deckled edges gives the portrait a tactile, fine-art quality distinct from a standard screen print. With an edition of 350 and an accessible original price of $75, it offers an approachable way to own a Fairey music portrait of a celebrated subject. For collectors building around Fairey's music-icon portraits, his punk and new-wave influences, or his letterpress works, Debbie Harry, Doom carries strong appeal, combining a beloved cultural figure with quality craftsmanship at a reasonable price, while its pairing potential adds completist interest.
Collector Perspective
This print appeals to collectors of Fairey's music-icon portraits and to fans of Debbie Harry and the punk and new-wave era she represents. The letterpress on cotton archival paper with hand-deckled edges attracts collectors who value tactile, fine-art print quality. At 13 x 17 inches with an edition of 350 and an original price of $75 per print or $150 per set, it is an accessible acquisition, with the set pricing encouraging collectors to pursue the companion image. It frames well in modest spaces and fits a collection organized around music portraits, Fairey's recurring subjects, or his letterpress editions.
Historical Context
Debbie Harry, Doom belongs to Fairey's ongoing series of music-icon portraits, a thread that runs throughout his career and reflects the deep influence of punk and rock culture on his work. Debbie Harry has appeared as a Fairey subject across several years, from earlier editions to this 2017 letterpress treatment. Released August 12, 2017 through Obey Giant on cotton archival paper, the work reflects his continued use of letterpress alongside screen printing. Its set pricing ties it to a companion image, a structure Fairey uses elsewhere to encourage paired collecting. Chronologically the print sits within the Posters and Propaganda phase of his career, though its subject places it firmly within his music-portrait lineage.
FAQ
Who is depicted in this print?
The print portrays Debbie Harry, the frontwoman of Blondie and a defining figure of the punk and new-wave eras. She is a recurring subject in Fairey's music-icon portraits, appearing in his work across multiple years and formats.
What is the edition size and price?
Debbie Harry, Doom is a first edition of 350, signed by Shepard Fairey. The original price was $75 per print or $150 per set, the set pricing indicating it pairs with a companion Debbie Harry image. It was published by Obey Giant on August 12, 2017.
What is the medium and size?
It is a letterpress print measuring 13 x 17 inches on 100% cotton archival paper with hand-deckled edges. The letterpress technique gives the portrait a tactile, fine-art quality distinct from Fairey's screen prints.
Is there a companion print?
Yes. The source's $150 set price indicates Debbie Harry, Doom pairs with a companion image, Debbie Harry, Destiny, released the same year. Collectors often acquire both to complete the intended set.
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.