Artist Statement
“The next print in the "Facing the Giant: Three Decades of Dissent" print series is "Arab Woman." Here's how co-curator Pedro Alonzo explains the work:? Shepard Fairey created this image of an Arab woman three years after the start of the second Gulf War. The work is a response to the extreme anti-Islamic rhetoric of the time. With this piece, Fairey confronts the notion of collective blame directed against all Arabs. Fairey portrays her as a characteristically strong woman, who looks directly at the viewer, confidently but no menacingly. Her countenance is appealing and relatable, evoking a h
About This Print
Arab Woman is a 2019 large-format screen print by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant in a numbered edition of 89, measuring 30 x 41 inches on Coventry Rag 100% cotton archival paper with hand-deckled edges and signed by the artist. Part of the "Facing the Giant: Three Decades of Dissent" series, it portrays an Arab woman looking directly at the viewer, confident but not menacing. The composition incorporates a floral design of Turkish origin intended to evoke shared appreciation of beauty and act as a bridge between West and Middle East. The work responds to anti-Islamic rhetoric, confronting collective blame and humanizing a misrepresented group.
Market Context
No recorded public sales >= $100 - pieces like this are typically held long-term by investors/collectors, were destroyed or consumed, or do not surface on the open market.