Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Shepard Fairey Print Index
Chuck D Black Steel (Subliminal Edition)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Chuck D Black Steel (Subliminal Edition) is a screen print on cream Speckle Tone paper measuring 18 x 24 inches, published in 2019 by Subliminal Projects in a numbered edition of 450. The print portrays Public Enemy frontman Chuck D and is signed by Shepard Fairey, photographer Janette Beckman and Chuck D himself. Rendered in Fairey's high-contrast graphic portrait style, it draws on Beckman's photography of the hip-hop artist. It belongs to a set of editions including Large Format Black, Red and this Subliminal variant.
Collector notes: Large Format - Black · Red · Subliminal Edition; 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 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:
“Chuck D Black Steel Screen Print. 18 x 24 inches. Screenprint on cream Speckle Tone paper. Signed by Shepard Fairey, Janette Beckman and Chuck D. Numbered edition of 450.” — Shepard Fairey
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2019-01-12
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year/date from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Series
- Music Series
- Medium and materials
- Screen Print; catalog dimensions 24 x 18 in; cream Speckletone paper noted in the release description.
- Edition details
- Large Format - Black · Red · Subliminal Edition; 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: “Chuck D Black Steel Screen Print. 18 x 24 inches. Screenprint on cream Speckle Tone paper. Signed by Shepard Fairey, Janette Beckman and Chuck D. Numbered edition of 450.”. 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 2019-01-12 and attributes the edition to Subliminal Projects. It is grouped under Music Series in the saved record. The saved record notes an original release price of USD $80.00.
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 Subliminal Projects. 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.