Riot Cop (Large Format - 20 Year Retro Series Set)

Work Summary & Collector Notes

Riot Cop is a large-format 2009 screen print from Fairey's 20 Year Retro Series Set, marking the 20th anniversary of OBEY. Published by Obey Giant in an edition of 75, it measures 29 x 41 inches, is signed and numbered, and retailed for $600 individually or $2000 as a set. Fairey revisited images from the 1998 to 2000 era, refining them and replacing the OBEY orange with metallic gold. The series first appeared in February for his 20 year retrospective at the ICA Boston, then went on public sale April 2, 2009. The riot-cop motif foregrounds authority and policing imagery.

Collector notes: First Edition · Large Format - 20 Year Retro Series Set; saved release record states an edition size of 75. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet groups this work under Collaborations and pop culture for discovery; that category is a navigation aid, not an authentication conclusion.

Historical Context

In the artist's words / from the release record:

“20 YEAR RETRO SERIES SET This large format print series was created to commemorate the 20 year anniversary of OBEY. The series was first released in Feb but only to a selected few for the opening of Shepard’s 20 year Retrospective at the ICA Boston. Shepard chose to revisit these images, from the 98 – 2000 era, due to their popularity but adding a more refined look to them with the replace of the OBEY Orange for a Metallic Gold. This fine art print series will go sale on 4/2/09 at noon. The series will initially go on sale only as a set with a few individual prints sold separately later in th

Documented Release Details

Object type

Editioned screenprint

Release date

2009-04-02

Release-date note

Catalog-listed release year/date from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.

Series

Political Series

Medium and materials

Screen Print; catalog dimensions 41 x 29 in; metallic inks noted in the release description.

Edition details

First Edition · Large Format - 20 Year Retro Series Set; saved release record states an edition size of 75.

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: “20 YEAR RETRO SERIES SET This large format print series was created to commemorate the 20 year anniversary of OBEY. The series was first released in Feb but only to a selected few for the opening of Shepard’s 20 year Retrospective at the ICA Boston. Shepard chose to revisit these images, from the 98 – 2000 era, due to their popularity but adding a more refined look to them with the replace of the OBEY Orange for a Metallic Gold. This fine art print series will go sale on 4/2/09 at noon. The series will initially go on sale only as a set with a few individual prints sold separately later in th. 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 2009-04-02 and attributes the edition to Obey Giant. It is grouped under Political Series in the saved record. The saved record notes an original release price of USD $600.00.

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Shepard Fairey — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
4. Shepard Fairey (Q1142847) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.