Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Mao Banner”?
Artist Statement
MAO BANNER Screen Print 35 x 72 inches Edition of 20
Summary
Mao Banner is a 2001 Shepard Fairey screen print published by Obey Giant in a first edition of just 20, measuring 35 x 72 inches. Its large, banner-format scale and tiny edition set it apart from Fairey's standard poster sheets. The title references Mao, placing it within Fairey's recurring appropriation of communist propaganda iconography. The record tags it with a pop-culture theme and confirms medium, year, dimensions, and the very small edition size, though it includes no extended artist statement, so the precise composition is not detailed beyond the Mao reference and banner format here.
Why It Matters
Mao Banner stands out within Fairey's 2001 output because of its scale and rarity: at 35 x 72 inches in an edition of only 20, it is a monumental banner rather than a standard poster, and one of the scarcest sheets of the period. The Mao subject connects it to Fairey's most important and recurring source of imagery, the appropriation of Chinese and Soviet propaganda to interrogate how authoritarian visual language commands obedience, the very theme encoded in the OBEY project. For collectors, the combination of large format and an edition of 20 makes this a high-scarcity object, the kind of piece that anchors a serious Fairey collection. Its database value lies in flagging both the exceptional rarity and the connection to his broader Mao-based body of work, which spans multiple years and formats. Because the source provides only the title, theme, and production facts, the interpretation stays anchored to Fairey's well-documented engagement with Mao imagery rather than asserting unrecorded compositional specifics. The very small edition is the decisive feature here, and it materially raises the collector importance of an otherwise sparsely documented entry.
Collector Perspective
Mao Banner is aimed at serious collectors who prioritize scarcity and scale. With only 20 produced and a 35 x 72-inch banner format, it is a statement object rather than a casual wall piece, demanding significant display space and rewarding it with dramatic presence. Collectors building a Fairey Mao set, or those who chase the rarest period editions, will find this among the most desirable 2001 releases. Its large size makes framing and handling more involved, so it suits experienced buyers with appropriate space and conservation awareness. The combination of monumental scale and a 20-piece edition gives it standout status within any propaganda-themed grouping.
Historical Context
Mao Banner was produced in 2001, during Fairey's posters-and-propaganda phase, and belongs to his long-running engagement with Mao imagery that recurs across his Mao Stamp, Mao Collage, and earlier Mao prints. His appropriation of Chinese communist iconography is central to the OBEY project's interrogation of propaganda and obedience. The banner's unusual 35 x 72-inch scale and edition of 20 mark it as a special, large-format release rather than a routine poster sheet, reflecting how Fairey occasionally produced monumental works to amplify the impact of his most charged subjects. Anchored by its 2001 date and Obey Giant publisher, it sits firmly within this propaganda-driven stretch of his career.
FAQ
What makes Mao Banner unusual?
Its scale and rarity. The print measures 35 x 72 inches, a large banner format, and was issued in a first edition of only 20 copies, far smaller than Fairey's typical poster editions. This combination makes it one of the scarcest 2001 releases.
When was it made and who published it?
Mao Banner was created in 2001 and published by Obey Giant. It is a screen print and part of Fairey's recurring engagement with Mao imagery across multiple years.
How rare is this print?
Very rare relative to most Fairey releases: with an edition of just 20, it sits among his most limited period works. The source does not state it is sold out, and no market or auction value is recorded in the data.
What is the subject?
The title references Mao, connecting it to Fairey's appropriation of Chinese communist propaganda imagery. The record does not include an extended artist statement, so details beyond the Mao subject and banner format are not documented here.
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.