Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Shepard Fairey Print Index
Bob Marley 40th Letterpress - Lively Up Yourself
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Lively Up Yourself is a 2021 letterpress portrait of Bob Marley, made by Shepard Fairey in collaboration with photographer Dennis Morris from Morris's original photo. Released as part of a set of three (with Confrontation and Soul Rebel) marking the 40th anniversary of Marley's passing, it presents the musician through Fairey's bold graphic treatment over a documentary photographic base. Printed letterpress on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges, it measures 16 x 19.5 inches and is a numbered edition of 450 signed by both Fairey and Morris, with an Obey and Dennis Morris publishing chop in the lower left corner. Issued at $100.
Collector notes: First 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:
“Bob Marley February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981 This letterpress set in collaboration with photographer Dennis Morris commemorates the 40th anniversary of Bob Marley's passing. The series represents the amazing breadth of Marley's character… the philosopher, the confrontational warrior for justice, and the evangelist for love and connection. Bob Marley's music and words continue to resonate with a worldwide audience while converting young idealists year over year. I discovered Bob Marley when I bought his Rastaman Vibrations shortly after I started skateboarding in 1984, purely because the only go
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print or object
- Release date
- 2021-05-18
- 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
- Letterpress; catalog dimensions 19.5 x 16 in.
- Edition details
- First 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: “Bob Marley February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981 This letterpress set in collaboration with photographer Dennis Morris commemorates the 40th anniversary of Bob Marley's passing. The series represents the amazing breadth of Marley's character... the philosopher, the confrontational warrior for justice, and the evangelist for love and connection. Bob Marley's music and words continue to resonate with a worldwide audience while converting young idealists year over year. I discovered Bob Marley when I bought his Rastaman Vibrations shortly after I started skateboarding in 1984, purely because the only go. 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 2021-05-18 and attributes the edition to Obey Giant. It is grouped under Music Series in the saved record. The saved record notes an original release price of USD $100.00.
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
- 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.