Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Resurrectionem Ex-Mortuis”?
Artist Statement
Serigraph on Coventry Rag, 100% Cotton Custom Archival Paper with hand-deckled edges. 24 x 24 inches. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 100. Comes with a certificate of authenticity.
Summary
Resurrectionem Ex-Mortuis is a 2020 Shepard Fairey serigraph, published by Serigraphic Systems Inc in a signed, numbered first edition of 100. Printed on Coventry Rag, 100% cotton custom archival paper with hand-deckled edges, it measures 24 x 24 inches and was priced at $200. It comes with a certificate of authenticity. The source provides limited descriptive detail beyond medium, format, and edition, so interpretation here is kept cautious. Its Latin title and small edition place it among Fairey's higher-end serigraph releases from this period.
Why It Matters
Resurrectionem Ex-Mortuis belongs to a tightly produced run of square 24 x 24 inch serigraphs Fairey released through Serigraphic Systems Inc in 2020, each in a small edition of 100 on premium Coventry Rag cotton archival paper with hand-deckled edges. Its significance for collectors lies in this fine-art production quality: the heavier archival stock, deckled edges, and included certificate of authenticity mark it as a more deliberately crafted object than a standard Obey Giant poster edition. The Latin title, shared in spirit with companion releases like E Pluribus Unum, Pax Romana, and Mea Culpa, suggests a thematic group exploring classical and reflective ideas, though the source description does not elaborate on the imagery. The small edition of 100 makes it among the scarcer prints in Fairey's output for the year. Because the supplied record is sparse on subject matter, its importance is best understood through its format and edition rather than a documented message. For collectors who prioritize material quality, small editions, and series cohesion, this serigraph and its companions offer a refined, collectible set within Fairey's broader catalogue.
Collector Perspective
This appeals to collectors who prioritize fine-art print quality and small editions over poster-scale activism pieces. The 24 x 24 inch square format on Coventry Rag cotton archival paper with hand-deckled edges, plus an included certificate of authenticity, signals a premium object suited to careful framing and display. With a signed, numbered edition of just 100, it is among the scarcer Fairey releases of its year and appeals to buyers building a cohesive set alongside its companion serigraphs E Pluribus Unum, Pax Romana, and Mea Culpa from the same publisher and format. Collectors focused on material and edition size, rather than a specific documented subject, will find it a strong fit, though the limited source description warrants caution about thematic claims.
Historical Context
Released in April 2020 through Serigraphic Systems Inc, Resurrectionem Ex-Mortuis is part of a set of square 24 x 24 inch serigraphs Fairey issued that month in small editions of 100 on premium archival paper. Alongside companions such as E Pluribus Unum, Pax Romana, and Mea Culpa, it reflects Fairey's parallel practice of producing higher-end, finely made serigraph editions distinct from his larger Obey Giant poster runs. The shared Latin titling and identical format suggest a deliberate series. With limited descriptive source material, its place in Fairey's arc is best read through this premium-edition production approach rather than a documented subject or campaign.
FAQ
What are the edition and materials?
It is a serigraph on Coventry Rag, 100% cotton custom archival paper with hand-deckled edges, 24 x 24 inches, signed by Shepard Fairey and numbered in an edition of 100. It comes with a certificate of authenticity and was published by Serigraphic Systems Inc in 2020.
How large is the edition?
The edition is limited to 100 signed and numbered prints, making it one of the smaller Fairey editions from its year.
Does it come with authentication?
Yes. According to the release, it comes with a certificate of authenticity and is signed by Shepard Fairey.
Is it related to other 2020 prints?
It shares its publisher, square 24 x 24 inch format, edition of 100, and April 2020 release with companion serigraphs including E Pluribus Unum, Pax Romana, and Mea Culpa, and it was later remixed in a 2021 release.
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.