Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Rose Soldier (Letterpress)”?
Artist Statement
Rose Soldier. 10 x 13 inches. Letterpress on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 450. $65. Obey publishing chop in lower left corner.
Summary
Rose Soldier (Letterpress) is a 2017 Shepard Fairey letterpress print published by Obey Giant. It is a letterpress on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges measuring 10 x 13 inches, signed by Shepard Fairey in a numbered edition of 450 at $65, with the Obey publishing chop in the lower left corner. The image pairs a soldier motif with a rose, a juxtaposition of militarism and floral symbolism rendered in the tactile, impressed surface of letterpress on craft-forward cotton stock.
Why It Matters
Rose Soldier (Letterpress) shows Fairey working in his more intimate, craft-oriented register, using letterpress rather than screen print to produce a small, object-forward edition. The pairing of a soldier with a rose is a classic Fairey juxtaposition, setting militaristic imagery against a flower to evoke tension between force and peace, a recurring rhetorical move in his work. The presence of the Obey publishing chop in the lower left corner adds a mark of provenance and ties the piece explicitly to his Obey Giant imprint, a detail collectors of his letterpress series watch for. At 10 x 13 inches in an edition of 450, on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges, it has the refined, tactile quality that distinguishes Fairey's letterpress works from his larger graphic posters: the impressed surface and deckled stock reward close, in-hand appreciation. Priced at $65, it was an accessible collectible aimed at enthusiasts who value the medium and the finish over scale. For collectors, its significance lies in its place within Fairey's body of letterpress editions, a coherent, craft-driven subset, and in the rose-and-soldier symbolism that connects it to his broader peace, conflict, and power themes. It pairs naturally with his other letterpress releases, making it a strong piece for a collection organized around medium or around his peace-versus-force iconography.
Collector Perspective
This print appeals to collectors who specifically pursue Fairey's letterpress editions and value craft, finish, and tactility over poster scale. The hand-deckled cream cotton paper, impressed letterpress surface, and Obey publishing chop give it a refined, object-forward character that frames beautifully at its intimate 10 x 13 size. It groups handsomely with his other letterpress prints for a medium-focused wall, and its rose-and-soldier symbolism connects it to peace-and-conflict themed collections. With a numbered edition of 450 and an accessible $65 original price, it is approachable for collectors building a letterpress set rather than chasing rarity, and the publishing chop adds reassuring provenance.
Historical Context
Released October 2017 by Obey Giant, Rose Soldier (Letterpress) sits within Fairey's recurring use of letterpress for small, craft-forward editions during the mid-to-late 2010s. These letterpress works, printed on deckled cotton stock and often bearing the Obey publishing chop, form a coherent subset distinct from his larger screen prints. The rose-and-soldier juxtaposition extends his long-running interest in contrasting militarism with symbols of peace and beauty, a tension that runs through much of his political imagery. Issued amid a dense 2017 run of Obey editions, it reflects his continued exploration of varied print media alongside his more prominent graphic releases.
FAQ
What medium is Rose Soldier printed in?
It is a letterpress print on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges. Letterpress gives the work an impressed, tactile surface distinct from Fairey's screen prints, and the deckled cotton stock lends it a refined, craft-object quality best appreciated in hand.
What is the Obey publishing chop?
The source notes an Obey publishing chop in the lower left corner. This embossed publisher's mark ties the piece to Fairey's Obey Giant imprint and is a provenance detail collectors of his letterpress editions specifically look for when evaluating a print.
What are the edition and dimensions?
It is a letterpress edition of 450, measuring 10 x 13 inches, signed by Shepard Fairey and originally priced at $65. The intimate scale and mid-size edition make it an accessible, craft-forward collectible within his letterpress body of work.
What does the imagery convey?
The print pairs a soldier motif with a rose, juxtaposing militarism with floral symbolism. This contrast between force and peace is a recurring rhetorical device in Fairey's work, connecting the piece to his broader peace, conflict, and power themes.
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.