FUCK Kozik and Giant

Work Summary & Collector Notes

FUCK Kozik and Giant is a 2000 screen print by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant in a first edition of 200 at 24 x 40 inches. Per Fairey's own account, it was the poster for a 2000 art show in Osaka with artist Frank Kozik, organized through Dept. Japan. The composition pairs Fairey's designed type with Kozik's pencil-sketched scene of his 'Smokin' Rabbits' parading before the Kremlin and being saluted by soldiers, which Fairey illustrated and composed in Kozik's San Francisco studio. The deliberately provocative title was Kozik's idea.

Collector notes: First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 200. Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet groups this work under Music and counterculture for discovery; that category is a navigation aid, not an authentication conclusion.

Historical Context

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

“In 1998 Kozik called me and asked if he could connect me with some Japanese folks who collected his work and liked my work. It kicked off a great relationship between Kozik, me, and Dept. Japan. In 2000 Dept invited me and Frank to do an art show at their space in Osaka. Frank suggested that we call the show "FUCK Kozik and Giant," which I thought was funny, so I designed some type for it. Frank then invited me to his studio in San Francisco to finish the poster with him. When I got there, Frank, a hero, and major inspiration, pulled out a rough pencil sketch of a scene with rows of his "Smok

Documented Release Details

Object type

Editioned screenprint

Release date

2000

Release-date note

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

Series

Collaboration

Medium and materials

Screen Print; catalog dimensions 40 x 24 in.

Edition details

First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 200.

Signature and marks

Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering 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: “In 1998 Kozik called me and asked if he could connect me with some Japanese folks who collected his work and liked my work. It kicked off a great relationship between Kozik, me, and Dept. Japan. In 2000 Dept invited me and Frank to do an art show at their space in Osaka. Frank suggested that we call the show "FUCK Kozik and Giant," which I thought was funny, so I designed some type for it. Frank then invited me to his studio in San Francisco to finish the poster with him. When I got there, Frank, a hero, and major inspiration, pulled out a rough pencil sketch of a scene with rows of his "Smok. 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 2000 and attributes the edition to Obey Giant. It is grouped under Collaboration in the saved record.

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.