Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Tomas Young Tribute”?
Artist Statement
I first learned about veteran Tomas Young's story when musician Eddie Vedder asked me to help him with the art for Body of War, a documentary following Tomas' journey after being paralyzed in the Iraq War. Tomas' courage as a person dealing with paralysis and as an outspoken critic of the Iraq War moved and inspired me. Mark Wilkerson approached me a few years later about illustrating the cover for his amazing biography on Tomas called Tomas Young's War. The book goes even deeper than the film and demonstrates how tough life is for people with spinal cord injuries and how Tomas used his strength to shed light on his own situation and the cost of war. This poster is a tribute to Tomas and the life he lived. I recommend picking up the book and seeing the film if possible. Thanks for caring. – Shepard Tomas Young Tribute. 18 x 24 inches. Screen print on Speckletone paper. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 200. $65.
Summary
Tomas Young Tribute is a 2017 screen print by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant. It measures 18 x 24 inches, is printed on Speckletone paper, signed by Fairey, and issued as a numbered edition of 200. The portrait honors Iraq War veteran Tomas Young, who was paralyzed in the war and became an outspoken critic of it. Fairey first connected with Young's story through Eddie Vedder and the documentary Body of War, and later illustrated the cover for Mark Wilkerson's biography Tomas Young's War. The print is a tribute to Young's courage living with paralysis and his anti-war activism.
Why It Matters
Tomas Young Tribute is among the more personal and pointed works in Shepard Fairey's 2017 output, fusing portraiture with anti-war advocacy and disability awareness. Rather than depicting a celebrity or a generic icon, Fairey honors a specific individual whose life embodied the human cost of the Iraq War. The print's significance is deepened by Fairey's documented relationship to Young's story: he was drawn in through musician Eddie Vedder and the documentary Body of War, and later created the cover art for Mark Wilkerson's biography Tomas Young's War. This layered involvement gives the tribute genuine biographical weight rather than the distance of a commissioned portrait. The work also stands out for its small edition of 200, notably tighter than the 450-piece runs typical of Fairey's same-period releases, which lends it added scarcity within his catalog. Thematically it ties together several of Fairey's enduring concerns, anti-war conviction, individual courage, and the dignity of those society overlooks. For collectors, it offers a portrait that is both visually direct and morally serious, commemorating a real person's struggle with paralysis and his refusal to be silenced about the war that injured him.
Collector Perspective
This print suits collectors drawn to Fairey's portrait work and his anti-war convictions, especially those who value pieces with a documented personal backstory. The small edition of 200 makes it scarcer than many of Fairey's same-period releases, appealing to collectors who prioritize tighter runs. Signed and sized at 18 x 24 inches on Speckletone paper, it is a displayable, recognizable Fairey portrait. Its subject, veteran and activist Tomas Young, gives the work moral seriousness that resonates with collectors building a collection around portraits, legacy, and anti-war themes. It pairs naturally with Fairey's other tribute portraits and his peace and justice prints.
Historical Context
Tomas Young Tribute fits within Fairey's 2017 run of editioned prints and extends his long practice of portraiture honoring individuals who embody his values. The work grew out of Fairey's earlier involvement with Young's story, first through Eddie Vedder and the documentary Body of War, and later through cover art for Mark Wilkerson's biography Tomas Young's War. This makes the print the culmination of a years-long connection rather than a single commission. Within his arc, it reflects the mature phase in which Fairey used portraiture to spotlight anti-war activism and individual courage, choosing a smaller edition of 200 that signals the work's personal, tribute-driven nature.
FAQ
Who was Tomas Young?
Tomas Young was an Iraq War veteran who was paralyzed in the war and became an outspoken critic of it. Fairey's print is a tribute to Young's courage living with paralysis and his activism shedding light on the cost of war and the challenges facing those with spinal cord injuries.
How did Fairey become connected to Tomas Young's story?
Fairey first learned of Young's story when musician Eddie Vedder asked him to help with art for Body of War, a documentary following Young after his paralysis. Fairey later illustrated the cover for Mark Wilkerson's biography Tomas Young's War, deepening the connection.
How large is the edition?
Tomas Young Tribute is a numbered edition of 200, signed by Shepard Fairey and published by Obey Giant in 2017. This is a smaller run than the 450-piece editions typical of Fairey's same-period releases, giving it added scarcity within his catalog.
What are the print's specifications?
The print is a screen print measuring 18 x 24 inches on Speckletone paper, signed by Shepard Fairey. It is a standard, displayable size for his portrait editions from this period.
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.