Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Shepard Fairey Print Index
Disposable Heroes (Obey Giant Version)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Disposable Heroes (Obey Giant Version) is a 2012 print by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant and released February 7, 2012. It is an 18 x 24 inch edition of 450, signed and numbered by the artist, originally $40. Per the source, it was released for the Metallica "Obey Your Master" show in Los Angeles, and exists in an Exhibit A Edition and this Obey Giant Version. The work ties Fairey's OBEY iconography to a Metallica-themed event, blending his graphic poster style with music-related subject matter for the exhibition.
Collector notes: Exhibit A Edition · Obey Giant Version; 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 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:
“Released for the Metallica "Obey Your Master" show in Los Angeles New edition of 450, 18"x24", signed and numbered by Shepard Fairey.” — Shepard Fairey
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print or object
- Release date
- 2012-02-07
- 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
- catalog dimensions 24 x 18 in; metallic inks noted in the release description.
- Edition details
- Exhibit A Edition · Obey Giant Version; 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: “Released for the Metallica "Obey Your Master" show in Los Angeles New edition of 450, 18"x24", signed and numbered by Shepard Fairey.”. 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 2012-02-07 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 $40.00.
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.