Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Moonage Daydream (Timed Edition)”?
Artist Statement
"For this MOONAGE DAYDREAM print image, I was able to reference outtakes from the ZIGGY cover shoot, one of which I thought, with a few artistic liberties taken, could become a great portrait illustration. Bowie was incredibly photogenic, which yielded so many glorious images of him, and makes it a challenge to create a new visage that stands with the rest of his most iconic portraits. It is very meaningful for me to have the opportunity to craft my articulation of one of my favorite artists ever, from possibly the era of his peak creative genius.
Summary
Moonage Daydream (Timed Edition) is a 2022 Shepard Fairey screen print measuring 18 x 24 inches, published by Mondo as a timed edition. The work is a portrait of David Bowie, which the source says Fairey based on outtakes from the Ziggy Stardust cover shoot, taking some artistic liberties to craft a new portrait illustration of the musician. Fairey describes Bowie as one of his favorite artists ever and references what he considers the era of Bowie's peak creative genius. As a timed edition, the print run was determined by orders placed within a set window rather than a fixed pre-set number. It pairs Fairey's portrait style with music-icon subject matter.
Why It Matters
Moonage Daydream is a clear example of Fairey's deep engagement with music iconography, here applied to David Bowie, one of the most influential musicians of the twentieth century. The source captures Fairey's personal investment, calling Bowie one of his favorite artists ever and noting the meaningful challenge of crafting a new portrait that can stand alongside Bowie's most iconic images. By referencing outtakes from the Ziggy Stardust cover shoot, Fairey ties the work to a specific, celebrated moment in Bowie's career, what Fairey calls possibly the era of his peak creative genius. That direct link to the Ziggy era gives the portrait strong cultural resonance for music and Bowie fans alike. Published by Mondo, a company known for music and film art, the print sits within Fairey's broader catalog of musician portraits and broadens his reach into entertainment-collector circles. The timed-edition format means the run size was set by demand within a window, which can affect how collectors view its availability. Its significance is strong among Fairey's music portraits: the subject's stature and the Ziggy-era reference give it lasting appeal, though as a timed edition tied to a film tie-in it is a crossover release rather than a core OBEY statement.
Collector Perspective
This print is a natural fit for David Bowie fans, music-portrait collectors, and those who follow Fairey's musician series, as well as Mondo collectors who track its music and film releases. The 18 x 24 inch format on a portrait subject makes it an easy centerpiece for a music-themed wall or a grouping of Fairey's musician prints. The source's reference to the Ziggy Stardust cover shoot gives the work specific provenance that fans value. As a timed edition, availability was set by demand within a window rather than a fixed cap, so collectors should weigh that when assessing scarcity. It fits well alongside Fairey's other music portraits and within a Bowie-focused collection, where its connection to a defining era of the artist adds appeal.
Historical Context
Moonage Daydream extends Fairey's long line of musician portraits, applying his portrait-illustration method to David Bowie. The source's reference to Ziggy Stardust cover-shoot outtakes connects the work to Bowie's early-1970s peak, the era Fairey identifies as the musician's creative height. Published by Mondo in 2022, it reflects Fairey's collaborations with companies in the music and film space, broadening his work beyond his own Obey Giant releases. Within his arc, it belongs to the music-portrait thread that runs throughout his career, in which he honors artists he admires by translating photographic references into his graphic style. As a timed-edition crossover release, it represents his contemporary entertainment-collaboration output rather than his foundational political or OBEY imagery.
FAQ
Who is depicted in Moonage Daydream?
The print is a portrait of David Bowie. Per Fairey's statement, he referenced outtakes from the Ziggy Stardust cover shoot and took a few artistic liberties to craft a new portrait illustration of one of his favorite artists ever.
What does the title and image reference?
The source ties the image to outtakes from Bowie's Ziggy Stardust cover shoot, which Fairey describes as possibly the era of Bowie's peak creative genius. The print honors that defining period of the musician's career.
What kind of edition is this?
According to the source, Moonage Daydream is a Timed Edition published by Mondo in 2022. A timed edition's run is determined by orders placed within a set window rather than a fixed, pre-set number, so the final quantity reflects demand.
What are the size and medium?
The source lists the print as 18 x 24 inches and a screen print. It was published by Mondo, a company known for its music and film art releases, in 2022.
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.