Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Horror Business (Tomb)”?
Artist Statement
HORROR BUSINESS TOMB . 18 x 24 inches. Screenprint on cream Speckle Tone paper. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 450. $50.
Summary
Horror Business (Tomb) is a 2018 screen print by Shepard Fairey on cream Speckle Tone paper, measuring 18 x 24 inches. Published by Obey Giant, it is signed by Shepard Fairey and numbered in an edition of 450. The print is one of two related versions, Crypt and Tomb. With limited descriptive detail beyond its specifications, the work sits within Fairey's pop-culture and music-adjacent output of the period, rendered in his recognizable graphic screen-print style on textured cream stock at an accessible mid-size format.
Why It Matters
Horror Business (Tomb) is a signed, numbered Obey Giant screen print that fits within Fairey's catalog of accessibly priced, mid-size editions. Issued in two related versions, Tomb and Crypt, it appeals to collectors who track variant pairs and enjoy collecting complementary editions of a single title. At 18 x 24 inches on cream Speckle Tone paper in an edition of 450, it occupies the more available tier of Fairey's output, historically making such prints an approachable entry point for newer collectors and a flexible component for thematic groupings. The source provides limited descriptive context beyond its specifications, so its significance rests primarily on its production status as a signed, numbered Fairey print and on the variant relationship between Tomb and Crypt rather than on a documented political message. Within a broader Fairey collection it functions as a companion piece, strengthening sets that mix his music-adjacent, pop-culture, and decorative releases. Its value to collectors derives from the recognizable Obey Giant format, the signed-and-numbered status, and its role rounding out a representative survey of his 2018 print run.
Collector Perspective
This print suits collectors who enjoy variant pairs, since it exists in Tomb and Crypt versions, and those assembling Fairey's music-adjacent or pop-culture releases. At 18 x 24 inches on cream Speckle Tone paper with an edition of 450 and an accessible original price, it is an approachable acquisition for newer collectors or for filling out a 2018-era grouping. The familiar Obey Giant format frames easily and pairs well with other cream-stock prints. With limited descriptive detail in the record, its appeal is grounded in its signed-and-numbered status and the variant relationship rather than a documented message, making it a solid supporting piece within a broader Fairey collection.
Historical Context
Released in April 2018, Horror Business (Tomb) belongs to the prolific stretch in which Fairey issued numerous Obey Giant screen prints, including music-referencing and pop-culture works alongside his more political output. The release of paired Tomb and Crypt versions is consistent with Fairey's recurring practice of offering a title across related variants. With the source supplying limited descriptive context, the print is best understood as part of this broad 2018 production wave, sharing the accessible 18 x 24-inch format and larger edition size typical of the mid-tier prints Fairey used to keep his work attainable to a wide audience during this very active year.
FAQ
What are the dimensions and medium?
Horror Business (Tomb) measures 18 x 24 inches and is a screen print on cream Speckle Tone paper. This is a common mid-size Obey Giant format that frames easily and displays well alongside other Fairey prints on similar cream stock.
Is this print signed and numbered?
Yes. According to the source, it is signed by Shepard Fairey and numbered in an edition of 450, published by Obey Giant in 2018.
How does the Tomb version relate to Crypt?
Horror Business was released in two related versions, Tomb and Crypt. The Tomb is one of this pair, appealing to collectors who like acquiring complementary editions of a single title within Fairey's catalog.
Is this a rare print?
It is a numbered edition of 450, which places it among Fairey's more available releases rather than the scarce ones. Its appeal rests on the signed-and-numbered status and the Tomb/Crypt variant relationship rather than low edition size.
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.