Artist Statement
“The Not Great Men print was inspired by the Gang of Four song of the same name from their album “Entertainment”.. Gang of Four are a great band musically and lyrically with many of their songs tackling subjects like consumption, capitalism, obsession with power, exploitation, narcissism, and class structure. The song Not Great Men has long struck me as a wise indictment of the contradiction or paradox of leadership and power. It takes assertive, charismatic people with self-confidence to be leaders, but on the dark side, leaders are often power hungry, manipulative, and abusive of their power
About This Print
Not Great Men is a 2013 Obey Giant screen print, 18 x 24 inches, signed and numbered in a first edition of 450, originally priced at $45. The source explains it was inspired by the Gang of Four song of the same name from their album 'Entertainment'. Fairey reads the song as an indictment of the paradox of leadership and power, suggesting that power is not inherently great and that the world is often shaped by people who are not great men. The print channels this critique of charisma, manipulation, and unchecked authority, and Fairey adds a note advocating more women in public leadership.
Market Context
Estimated market value: 190.0. Observed range 100.0–2013.0. Latest recorded sale: 2024-01-20. Value is the median of recorded public sales (>= $100); low-high shows the observed sale range.