Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Blondie On Bowery”?
Artist Statement
"Blondie on Bowery," Shepard Fairey, 2022 Silkscreen on 320 gram Coventry Rag paper with hand deckled edges Image Size: 28.75"x 42" Paper Size: 28.75"x 42" An edition of 199 + 10 APs + 10 PPs + 20 Foundation Proofs Signed & Numbered in Pencil by Artist with Certificate of Authenticity Printed by Gary Lichtenstein Editions Published and Shipped by WCC Editions Mural Creation Year: 2017 Price: $1000.00 USD
Summary
Blondie On Bowery is a 2022 Shepard Fairey silkscreen measuring 28.75 x 42 inches, printed on 320 gram Coventry Rag paper with hand-deckled edges. The edition consists of 199 prints plus 10 APs, 10 PPs, and 20 Foundation Proofs, each signed and numbered in pencil with a Certificate of Authenticity. Printed by Gary Lichtenstein Editions and published by WCC Editions through Lisa Project NYC, the work derives from a mural Fairey created in 2017. The large-format, deckled-edge fine-art print depicts a Blondie subject in Fairey's graphic portrait style and was offered at a premium price point.
Why It Matters
Blondie On Bowery stands out as one of Fairey's premium, fine-art-grade editions, distinguished by its scale, materials, and production pedigree. The source documents a large 28.75 x 42 inch silkscreen on heavy 320 gram Coventry Rag paper with hand-deckled edges, printed by Gary Lichtenstein Editions and published by WCC Editions, hallmarks of a high-end print rather than a standard studio release. Its derivation from a 2017 mural connects it to Fairey's public-art practice and to the Lisa Project NYC, which commissions murals in the Lower East Side, giving the print a documented mural lineage. The Blondie subject ties it to New York's downtown music history and the Bowery's cultural legacy, broadening its appeal to music and city-history collectors. The edition structure, 199 plus 10 APs, 10 PPs, and 20 Foundation Proofs, and the premium price mark it as a more exclusive, collector-grade object than his accessible offsets. Its significance is high within Fairey's catalog of mural-to-print fine editions: the craftsmanship, deckled edges, and named master printer give it lasting desirability, even if the subject is a crossover rather than a core OBEY image.
Collector Perspective
Blondie On Bowery appeals to serious collectors seeking a premium, large-format Fairey fine-art print, as well as Blondie fans and collectors of New York music and street-art history. The 28.75 x 42 inch silkscreen on heavy Coventry Rag paper with hand-deckled edges presents as a gallery-grade work and makes a commanding statement piece. The involvement of master printer Gary Lichtenstein Editions and the inclusion of APs, PPs, and Foundation Proofs signal the kind of production quality experienced collectors prize. As a numbered edition of 199 plus proofs at a premium price, it is more exclusive and investment-oriented than Fairey's everyday releases. It fits a high-end collection, a music-themed display, or a grouping of Fairey's mural-derived editions, where its 2017 mural origin adds provenance.
Historical Context
Blondie On Bowery exemplifies Fairey's practice of translating public murals into collectible fine-art editions. The source notes the mural was created in 2017, and the print, published in 2022 through Lisa Project NYC and WCC Editions, documents that wall work for collectors. Printed by Gary Lichtenstein Editions on heavy Coventry Rag paper, it reflects Fairey's engagement with master-printer collaborations and museum-quality production in his mature period. The Bowery subject and the Lisa Project commission tie the work to New York's downtown art and music history, an environment central to the street-art tradition Fairey emerged from. Within his arc, it represents the high end of his print output, where murals, premium materials, and limited proof structures converge, distinct from his accessible posters and standard studio editions.
FAQ
What is the edition structure of Blondie On Bowery?
Per the source, the edition is 199 prints plus 10 APs, 10 PPs, and 20 Foundation Proofs. Each is signed and numbered in pencil by the artist with a Certificate of Authenticity, making it a documented limited fine-art edition.
What paper and printing were used?
The source states the print is a silkscreen on 320 gram Coventry Rag paper with hand-deckled edges, with an image and paper size of 28.75 x 42 inches. It was printed by Gary Lichtenstein Editions and published and shipped by WCC Editions.
Is this print connected to a mural?
Yes. According to the source, the work derives from a mural with a creation year of 2017. The 2022 print, published through Lisa Project NYC, translates that mural into a limited silkscreen edition for collectors.
Why is this print priced higher than other Fairey releases?
The source lists a premium price reflecting its large 28.75 x 42 inch scale, heavy Coventry Rag paper with hand-deckled edges, master-printer production by Gary Lichtenstein Editions, and limited edition of 199 plus proofs, all hallmarks of a high-end fine-art print.
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.