Artist Statement
“Appropriation is the common currency of artistic practice. Every new work of art builds upon the creative juices of predecessors. In "Greetings from Iraq," Fairey draws from a humble postcard from Yellowstone National Park that features one of the park's main attractions, the Old Faithful geyser. The artist inserts oil derricks, the desired natural resource, and arguably the true cause of the war, as well as camels in the background. The exploding stream of boiling water and vapor convert into an explosion in this piece. Donald Rumsfeld, the Secretary of Defense during the second Gulf War in
About This Print
Greetings From Iraq is a 2019 large-format screen print by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant in a signed, numbered edition of 89, measuring 30 x 41 inches on Coventry Rag 100% cotton archival paper with hand-deckled edges. Appropriating a vintage Yellowstone postcard of the Old Faithful geyser, Fairey replaces the natural scene with oil derricks, camels, and an eruption rendered as an explosion, linking the war's true cause to oil and the "shock and awe" military tactic. A Sex Pistols lyric, "Enjoy a cheap holiday on other people's misery," anchors the image's anti-war and punk-referencing message.
Market Context
Estimated market value: 625.0. Observed range 100.0–900.0. Latest recorded sale: 2023-07-15. Value is the median of recorded public sales (>= $100); low-high shows the observed sale range.