Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Modular Frequency”?
Artist Statement
Modular Frequency. 14 1/4" H x 9.5" W. Letterpress on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 300. Comes with a Digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart. $75
Summary
Modular Frequency is a 2026 Shepard Fairey letterpress print published by Subliminal Projects, measuring 14.25 inches high by 9.5 inches wide on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges. Released February 28, 2026 in a signed, numbered edition of 300, it is a smaller-format work executed in letterpress rather than Fairey's usual screen print. The supplied description provides production details and identifies a theme of collaborations and pop culture with a secondary music-and-counterculture signal, but no extended artist statement. The print is signed by Shepard Fairey and comes with a digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart. Its title and theme connect it to Fairey's music-related output.
Why It Matters
Modular Frequency stands out in Fairey's catalog for its medium: a letterpress print on hand-deckled cream cotton paper, distinct from the screen prints that dominate his output and prized by collectors who value tactile, fine-press production. Published by Subliminal Projects, his own studio, and themed around music and counterculture, it connects to Fairey's deep roots in punk and music graphics. The frequency and modular language in the title evokes sound and signal, aligning with the music-and-counterculture secondary theme the record assigns and linking it to companion works like Modular Sound & Vision and Frequency in his 2026 releases. At a compact 14.25 by 9.5 inches and an edition of 300, it occupies an intimate, collectible scale. Because the source provides specifications without an extended statement, interpretation stays close to the title, medium, and theme. The letterpress technique, hand-deckled edges, signature, numbering, and Verisart authentication together mark it as a carefully made small-format edition within Fairey's music-oriented work.
Collector Perspective
This print appeals to collectors who appreciate fine-press techniques, as its letterpress execution on hand-deckled cream cotton paper is uncommon in Fairey's largely screen-printed catalog. Its music-and-counterculture theme draws collectors interested in his punk and music heritage, and its connection to companion works like Modular Sound & Vision and Frequency makes it attractive for set collecting. The compact 14.25-by-9.5-inch size suits collectors with limited wall space or those building intimate groupings. The edition of 300 is moderately sized, and the signed, numbered, Verisart-certified format meets current standards. Published through Subliminal Projects, it fits within a collection organized around Fairey's music series and his self-published, technique-driven editions.
Historical Context
Modular Frequency belongs to Fairey's contemporary period and to the music-and-counterculture thread that runs from his punk origins through his ongoing concert and music graphics. Released February 28, 2026 through Subliminal Projects, it is part of a cluster of modular- and frequency-titled 2026 works that share a sound-and-signal motif. Its letterpress medium and hand-deckled cotton paper distinguish it from his standard screen prints, showing his continued experimentation with fine-press techniques at a small scale. With no extended artist statement in the source, its specific concept is read through the title, medium, and music theme rather than documented intent, but its place among related 2026 music works locates it within Fairey's enduring engagement with music culture.
FAQ
What printing technique is used?
Modular Frequency is a letterpress print on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges, distinguishing it from the screen prints that make up most of Fairey's catalog. The letterpress technique and deckled edges give it a tactile, fine-press character that technique-focused collectors value.
What is the edition size and format?
It is a numbered edition of 300, signed by Shepard Fairey, measuring 14.25 inches high by 9.5 inches wide. It was published by Subliminal Projects in 2026 with a digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart. The compact size makes it an intimate-scale collectible.
Is it part of a series?
Its title connects it to companion 2026 works such as Modular Sound & Vision and Frequency, which share the sound-and-signal motif. The record assigns a collaborations-and-pop-culture primary theme with a music-and-counterculture secondary signal.
Who published it and when?
It was published by Subliminal Projects, Fairey's own studio and gallery, and is dated February 28, 2026. The supplied record provides production details but no extended artist statement about the imagery.
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.