Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Shepard Fairey Print Index
Paul Watson (Dark Blue)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Paul Watson (Dark Blue) is a 2009 Shepard Fairey screen print, 18 x 24 inches, an edition of 450 published by Obey Giant. It is a portrait of Captain Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which works to defend ocean wildlife worldwide. Released December 17, 2009 in two colorways (Dark Blue and Light Blue), the print was signed and numbered by both Shepard and Watson. A portion of the profits went to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. The composition pairs Fairey's signature portrait treatment with a cool dark-blue palette, presenting Watson as an activist figure in the artist's propaganda-poster idiom.
Collector notes: Dark Blue · Light Blue; saved release record states an edition size of 450. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet groups this work under Portraits and legacy for discovery; that category is a navigation aid, not an authentication conclusion.
Historical Context
In the artist's words / from the release record:
“The mission of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is to defend ocean wildlife worldwide. Shepard did a portrait of founder Paul Watson that will be available as a print on 12/17/09 at Random. The print comes in two different colorway, Light Blue and Dark Blue. Both are Editions of 450, 18 x 24, Signed and Numbered by Shepard and Capt. Paul Watson. $55 each. A portion of the profits will go to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.” — Shepard Fairey
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2009-12-17
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year/date from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Series
- Portrait Series
- Medium and materials
- Screen Print; catalog dimensions 24 x 18 in.
- Edition details
- Dark Blue · Light Blue; saved release record states an edition size of 450.
- 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: “The mission of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is to defend ocean wildlife worldwide. Shepard did a portrait of founder Paul Watson that will be available as a print on 12/17/09 at Random. The print comes in two different colorway, Light Blue and Dark Blue. Both are Editions of 450, 18 x 24, Signed and Numbered by Shepard and Capt. Paul Watson. $55 each. A portion of the profits will go to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.”. 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 2009-12-17 and attributes the edition to Obey Giant. It is grouped under Portrait Series in the saved record. The saved record notes an original release price of USD $55.00.
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.