Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Ozzy (First Edition)”?
Artist Statement
OZZY Screen Print 18 x 24 inches Edition of 200
Summary
Ozzy is a 2001 Shepard Fairey screen print measuring 18 x 24 inches, published by Obey Giant in a first edition of 200. The work is a music-themed portrait drawing on rock-and-roll and counterculture iconography, rendered in Fairey's high-contrast, propaganda-influenced poster style. As part of his early-2000s output, it reflects his deep engagement with music figures and the punk and metal scenes that shaped his sensibility. The source description is brief, covering title, medium, dimensions, and edition, but situates the piece within his music and counterculture strand.
Why It Matters
Ozzy belongs to Shepard Fairey's extensive body of music-themed work, a strand rooted in the punk, metal, and hardcore scenes that shaped his artistic and political sensibility. Portraits of rock and counterculture figures recur throughout his catalog, and they reflect his belief in music as a vehicle for rebellion and independent thinking, values that parallel his street-art ethos. As a 2001 first edition of 200, this print documents Fairey applying his poster portraiture to a major rock figure during the early period when he was building these motifs into editioned works. For collectors, the music strand offers a distinct register from his political pieces, and portraits of recognizable musicians carry broad appeal beyond Fairey specialists. The work connects to a wide network of his other musician portraits, making it a clear node in a sustained series. Its rock-and-roll subject gives it strong visual identity and cultural resonance. While the source offers limited interpretive detail, the title, music theme, and early date make it a coherent and recognizable example of Fairey's counterculture portraiture from the early 2000s.
Collector Perspective
Ozzy appeals to collectors of Shepard Fairey's music and counterculture portraits, and to music fans drawn to rock iconography. The edition of 200 and 2001 date make it an accessible early-period acquisition with strong recognizable identity. At 18 x 24 inches it displays well as a standalone music portrait or grouped with his other musician prints. Buyers building a music-themed sub-collection, or those who collect across artist and rock-icon lines, will find it especially appealing. Its recognizable subject gives it crossover display appeal beyond Fairey specialists. A strong fit for collectors valuing the music strand of his early catalog.
Historical Context
Ozzy dates to 2001, within the early Obey Giant period when Shepard Fairey was extending his poster portraiture to musicians and counterculture figures. His engagement with punk, metal, and hardcore music predates and runs parallel to the OBEY Giant project that grew from his late-1980s Andre the Giant sticker campaign, reflecting the scenes that shaped his outlook. The edition of 200 is typical of his early-2000s runs. The work belongs to the music and counterculture strand of his catalog, connecting to a wide set of musician portraits and documenting this recurring theme during the formative stretch of his output before his later mainstream prominence.
FAQ
What is Ozzy by Shepard Fairey?
Ozzy is a 2001 screen print by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant in a first edition of 200. It measures 18 x 24 inches and is a music-themed portrait rendered in his propaganda-influenced poster style.
How large is the edition?
The work was published in a first edition of 200 by Obey Giant. This edition size is typical of Fairey's early-2000s screen-print runs within the Obey Giant project.
What theme does it explore?
Ozzy belongs to Fairey's music and counterculture strand, drawing on rock and metal iconography. Music portraits recur throughout his catalog and reflect his roots in the punk and hardcore scenes, though the source offers limited detail beyond the title and format.
What are the dimensions and medium?
Ozzy is a screen print measuring 18 x 24 inches, published by Obey Giant in 2001 as part of Shepard Fairey's early editioned output.
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.