Gauntlet Gallery — D*Face Print Index
Cli-Che
Summary
"Cli-Che" is a 2007 Ocontemporary release in a signed edition of 150, split between the "Eyecons" show opening and Black Rat Press. A six-colour screenprint with two varnishes and hand-applied gold leaf on 400gsm Somerset, its 68 x 98 cm sheet reworks the Che Guevara icon through D*Face's cynical lens.
Why It Matters
The hand-applied gold leaf and dual varnishes make each impression labour-intensive and subtly unique, elevating it above a standard screenprint. Its pun-title reframes the most reproduced revolutionary portrait as a marketing cliché, a sharp comment on how radical imagery gets commodified. That critique is central to D*Face's Pop-consumerist project.
Collector Perspective
The edition of 150 was distributed across two venues, so provenance can vary; the gold-leaf application is delicate and its intact condition materially affects desirability. Six colours plus two varnishes reward close inspection for surface finish and registration. Collectors should confirm the gold leaf is present and unlifted, alongside the signature.
Historical Context
The Alberto Korda Che portrait is arguably the most reproduced photograph in history, and D*Face's "Eyecons" show interrogated exactly this kind of hollowed-out icon. Ocontemporary and Black Rat Press jointly circulated the edition in 2007. Gold-leaf embellishment ties the work to a tradition of icon-painting the title mockingly invokes.
FAQ
What is the pun in the title?
"Cli-Che" merges "cliché" with "Che," critiquing how the Che Guevara portrait became a commodified marketing image.
Does it include gold leaf?
Yes, it features hand-applied gold leaf plus two varnishes over a six-colour screenprint.
Where was it sold?
100 impressions were available from Ocontemporary at the "Eyecons" opening and 50 from Black Rat Press.
About the Artist
D*Face is the working name of Dean Stockton (born 1978, London), a British street artist and a leading figure in the UK urban-contemporary scene. Drawing on comic books, pop art, skate graphics, and consumer iconography, he developed a signature cast of characters — winged "D*Dog" motifs, skull-faced pin-ups, and subverted Americana — rendered in bold, Lichtenstein-indebted lines. From stickers and street work in the early 2000s, he built a substantial studio practice of paintings, sculpture, and signed prints, founded the StolenSpace Gallery in London, and has collaborated widely across music and fashion.
Collecting D*Face at Gauntlet Gallery
Which D*Face works should I collect?
His signed, numbered screenprints — especially hand-finished and low-edition works — are the collectible core, prized for bold pop imagery. Look for clean condition and the artist's signature. Gauntlet Gallery prioritizes complete, well-documented impressions.
How is a D*Face piece authenticated?
We sell his works with documented provenance and the edition's signature and numbering. Each piece is photographed as-is, including signature and edition details, so you can verify before purchase.
What drives value?
Edition size, hand-embellishment, iconic imagery, condition, and provenance all shape value. Low-numbered, hand-finished, and larger works command the strongest premiums.