Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “RFK”?
Artist Statement
Limited Run of Shepard Fairey RKF prints. All signed and numbered. There are 500 of them, and FoL has 400.
Summary
RFK is a 2023 Shepard Fairey screen print, 18 x 24 inches, published by Friends of Lahsa in a signed, numbered first edition of 500. The source describes it as a limited run of signed and numbered prints, with Friends of Lahsa holding 400 of the 500. The listing provides limited descriptive detail beyond the format, edition, and publisher, and does not elaborate on the subject treatment or visual concept. Originally offered at 125 dollars, it is a portrait-oriented screen print produced in collaboration with the publishing organization.
Why It Matters
RFK is a signed, numbered Fairey screen print produced with Friends of Lahsa, an organization that holds the majority of the edition, which suggests the release functioned at least in part as a supporter or fundraising print. The source material is sparse, so its broader significance should be stated cautiously: it is a portrait-format print of limited edition tied to a specific publishing partner rather than a documented major catalog work. Within Fairey's practice, portrait prints carrying a public figure's initials fit his long tradition of rendering political and cultural figures, but the record does not detail the imagery, message, or subject treatment, so claims about its meaning would be speculative. For collectors, its interest lies in the relatively small edition of 500, the dual involvement of an outside organization, and its place among Fairey's 2023 collaboration releases. Because the description is thin, this entry is best understood as a lesser-documented collaborative print whose value rests on its signed, numbered status and partner provenance rather than on a fully articulated concept.
Collector Perspective
This print suits collectors of Fairey's collaboration and portrait output who are comfortable with a lesser-documented release. The edition of 500 and signed, numbered status give it baseline collector appeal, and its production with Friends of Lahsa adds an organizational-provenance angle that may interest those who follow Fairey's partner and benefit prints. At a moderate original price and a portrait 18 x 24 format, it fits a collection focused on his 2023 collaborative pieces. Because the source provides limited detail on the imagery, buyers should seek additional documentation before assuming specifics about subject or intent.
Historical Context
RFK belongs to Fairey's 2023 collaborative print releases, produced with the organization Friends of Lahsa, which the source notes held 400 of the 500 prints. The thin description limits how firmly it can be placed in his arc, but it aligns broadly with his ongoing practice of portrait and politically inflected prints made in partnership with outside groups. Without further detail on the imagery or message, its historical role is best characterized cautiously as a partner-published, signed and numbered edition within his contemporary catalog rather than a documented landmark. It exemplifies the steady stream of collaboration-driven editions Fairey issued during this period.
FAQ
What are the edition size and format of RFK?
According to the source, RFK is a limited run of 500 signed and numbered prints, measuring 18 x 24 inches. The publishing partner, Friends of Lahsa, held 400 of the 500 prints. It was originally offered at 125 dollars.
Who published this print?
The print was published by Friends of Lahsa in 2023 and is a signed, numbered screen print by Shepard Fairey, produced as a limited run in collaboration with that organization.
What does the print depict?
The source provides only limited descriptive detail, confirming it is a signed and numbered limited run but not elaborating on the specific imagery or message. Additional documentation would be needed to describe the subject treatment in detail.
Is this a rare print?
It is a relatively small edition of 500. The source does not state that it is sold out or otherwise scarce beyond the edition size, so it is best described as a moderate-edition collaborative 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.