Defend Dignity (Large Format)

Work Summary & Collector Notes

Defend Dignity is a 2019 large-format Shepard Fairey serigraph published by Obey Giant, printed on 100% cotton custom archival paper with hand-deckled edges, measuring 30 x 41 inches in a signed, numbered edition of 89. The image is a portrait of Maribel Valdez Gonzalez, created with photographer Arlene Mejorado as a symbol of hope and humanity. It originated in the 2017 WE THE PEOPLE series Fairey made with Aaron Huey and the Amplifier project to champion ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity. This release re-presents the image as part of his 30th-anniversary fine-art works.

Collector notes: First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 89. 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:

“In 2017 I worked with Aaron Huey of @amplifierart and several other artists for a series called WE THE PEOPLE; an effort meant to champion an appreciation for ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity. On Inauguration Day, people across the Capital carried our WE THE PEOPLE posters into the streets, hung them up in windows, or pasted them onto walls. We continued to see this movement throughout several other rallies around the world that year, including the Women's March in 2017. This "Defend Dignity" piece is one of three that I created for the original series. For this image, I collaborated

Documented Release Details

Object type

Editioned screenprint

Release date

2019-05-28

Release-date note

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

Series

Political Series

Medium and materials

Screen Print; catalog dimensions 41 x 30 in; archival paper noted in the release description.

Edition details

First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 89.

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: “In 2017 I worked with Aaron Huey of @amplifierart and several other artists for a series called WE THE PEOPLE; an effort meant to champion an appreciation for ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity. On Inauguration Day, people across the Capital carried our WE THE PEOPLE posters into the streets, hung them up in windows, or pasted them onto walls. We continued to see this movement throughout several other rallies around the world that year, including the Women's March in 2017. This "Defend Dignity" piece is one of three that I created for the original series. For this image, I collaborated. 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 2019-05-28 and attributes the edition to Obey Giant. It is grouped under Political Series in the saved record. The saved record notes an original release price of USD $900.00.

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

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.