Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “LA_56, Los Angeles, 2002 (First Edition)”?
Artist Statement
18 x 27cm 1 colour Screenprint on 300g fine art paper 300 numbered and stamped copies
Summary
LA_56, Los Angeles, 2002 (First Edition) is a one-color screen print on 300g fine art paper measuring 18 x 27 cm, published in 2019 by Obey Clothing in an edition of 300 numbered and stamped copies. The compact print's title references Los Angeles and the year 2002. With only a brief technical description provided in the source, the imagery and concept are not detailed, but the work is documented as a small-format, single-color screen print issued through Obey Clothing rather than Obey Giant. It belongs to a single First Edition with no listed variants.
Why It Matters
LA_56, Los Angeles, 2002 stands out partly for what the source does not say: it carries only a brief technical description, leaving its imagery and message undocumented here. What is clear is that it is a compact, one-color screen print on heavy 300g fine art paper, issued in 2019 through Obey Clothing in just 300 numbered and stamped copies. The Obey Clothing imprint, rather than the fine-art Obey Giant label, situates it within Fairey's apparel-side print output, a category collectors often track separately. Its title's reference to Los Angeles and 2002 suggests a connection to a specific place and moment, though the source does not explain it, so any deeper reading should remain cautious. The use of stamping in addition to numbering points to a particular authentication approach for this small run. For collectors, the appeal lies in its modest edition size, its fine-art paper, and its place within the Obey Clothing line. Because the descriptive detail is thin, its significance is best framed around its documented physical qualities and its distinct publisher rather than around an interpreted message.
Collector Perspective
This print appeals to collectors who track Fairey's Obey Clothing releases and small-format editions. Its draw is the modest run of 300 numbered and stamped copies on heavy 300g fine art paper, plus the distinct Obey Clothing imprint that sets it apart from Obey Giant fine-art prints. At a compact 18 x 27 cm it suits intimate display and groupings of smaller works. Because the source provides only a brief technical description, collectors should evaluate it primarily on its documented physical traits and edition rather than on a detailed concept. It fits a collection focused on Obey Clothing or small-format screen prints.
Historical Context
Released in 2019 through Obey Clothing, LA_56, Los Angeles, 2002 belongs to the apparel-side branch of Fairey's print output, distinct from his Obey Giant fine-art editions. Its title gestures toward Los Angeles and the year 2002, but the source does not elaborate on the reference, so its precise place in his narrative is not documented here. As a small, one-color screen print issued in a numbered and stamped edition of 300, it reflects the kind of compact, collectible objects produced under the Obey Clothing banner during this period. Given the limited description, its historical positioning is best treated cautiously and grounded in its documented format and publisher.
FAQ
What are the size and materials?
Per the source, LA_56, Los Angeles, 2002 is a one-color screen print on 300g fine art paper measuring 18 x 27 cm. It is a compact, single-color work on heavy stock, issued as 300 numbered and stamped copies.
Who published this print?
It was published in 2019 by Obey Clothing, the apparel-side imprint, rather than Obey Giant. That distinguishes it from Fairey's fine-art Obey Giant editions and places it within his clothing-line print output.
How large is the edition?
It is an edition of 300 numbered and stamped copies, according to the source. The combination of numbering and stamping is the documented authentication method for this small First Edition run.
What does the print depict?
The source provides only a brief technical description and does not detail the imagery or message. The title references Los Angeles and the year 2002, but no further explanation is documented here, so its subject is best treated cautiously.
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.