Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Shepard Fairey Print Index
Retro Series - Obey '89 (Large Format)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Retro Series - Obey '89 is a 2006 large-format screen print published by Obey Giant, measuring 42 by 30 inches in a signed and numbered edition of 89. Part of a series created to commemorate the release of Shepard Fairey's monograph Supply and Demand, the print isolates the GIANT ICON Face as it appeared in 1989, the earliest stage in the design's evolution the series documents. The work was offered individually at $400 or as a set, with set buyers receiving a signed copy of the book. Rendered in Fairey's bold OBEY iconography, it presents the face image at a deliberately large scale.
Collector notes: Large Format; saved release record states an edition size of 89. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet groups this work under OBEY iconography for discovery; that category is a navigation aid, not an authentication conclusion.
Historical Context
In the artist's words / from the release record:
“These Large Format prints were created to commemorate the release of Shepard's monograph Supply and Demand. The series displays the evolution of the GIANT ICON Face and Shepard's progression in design from 1989 to 2004. Each print measures 2.5' x 3.5' and is an edition of 89, signed and numbered. We are offering the series individually and as a set and if you purchase the set we will included a signed copy of the Supply and Demand book. $400 Individually, or $1200 for the set.” — Shepard Fairey
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2006-07-22
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year/date from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Series
- OBEY Icon Series
- Medium and materials
- Screen Print; catalog dimensions 42 x 30 in.
- Edition details
- Large Format; saved release record states an edition size of 89.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: Shepard Fairey's OBEY / Andre the Giant campaign began in 1989 and grew into a long print and public-art practice; this page treats that as career context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition.
Meaning / interpretation: In the artist's or release record's own words: “These Large Format prints were created to commemorate the release of Shepard's monograph Supply and Demand. The series displays the evolution of the GIANT ICON Face and Shepard's progression in design from 1989 to 2004. Each print measures 2.5' x 3.5' and is an edition of 89, signed and numbered. We are offering the series individually and as a set and if you purchase the set we will included a signed copy of the Supply and Demand book. $400 Individually, or $1200 for the set.”. This can be read as the documented intent for the work; no additional endorsement is assumed. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2006-07-22 and attributes the edition to Obey Giant. It is grouped under OBEY Icon Series in the saved record. The saved record notes an original release price of USD $400.00.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to Obey Giant. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, date, edition, dimensions, medium, release price, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- About — Shepard Fairey / OBEY GIANT — Obey Giant · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official OBEY GIANT artist biography and career context; it is not an individual-edition record.
- Shepard Fairey — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Shepard Fairey (Q1142847) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.