Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Shepard Fairey Print Index
Obey Icon (HPM)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Obey Icon (HPM) is a 2023 hand-painted multiple by Shepard Fairey, produced in collaboration with Ernesto Yerena and published by Obey Giant in a signed, numbered edition of 100. Measuring 19 x 28 inches on thick Coventry Rag paper, each piece features a unique stencil-painted background with the Obey Icon face and OBEY text screen printed over it, making every example different. Fairey notes this is the first fine art edition of the Obey Icon Face. Signed by Shepard Fairey, it carries the Hecho Con Ganas publishing chop and a Digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart. Released at $650, a portion of proceeds supports Brave New Films.
Collector notes: HPM · VSE; saved release record states an edition size of 100. 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:
“The "OBEY Icon" HPM (Hand-Painted Multiple) is a collaboration produced with my good friend and former co-worker Ernesto Yerena. I have worked with and collaborated with Ernesto for many years and it has been amazing to see him develop and flourish as an artist and activist. The Obey Icon Face evolved at the end of 1995 out of my desire to move further away from the association with Andre the Giant and toward a more streamlined and universal "Big Brother" (as in George Orwell's 1984) image. I was heavily influenced by the art of Russian Constructivism and Barbara Kruger when creating the Icon
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2023-07-20
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year/date from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Series
- OBEY Icon Series
- Medium and materials
- Screen Print | Hand Finished; catalog dimensions 28 x 19 in.
- Edition details
- HPM · VSE; saved release record states an edition size of 100.
- 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: “The "OBEY Icon" HPM (Hand-Painted Multiple) is a collaboration produced with my good friend and former co-worker Ernesto Yerena. I have worked with and collaborated with Ernesto for many years and it has been amazing to see him develop and flourish as an artist and activist. The Obey Icon Face evolved at the end of 1995 out of my desire to move further away from the association with Andre the Giant and toward a more streamlined and universal "Big Brother" (as in George Orwell's 1984) image. I was heavily influenced by the art of Russian Constructivism and Barbara Kruger when creating the Icon. 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 2023-07-20 and attributes the edition to Obey Giant. It is grouped under OBEY Icon Series in the saved record. The saved record notes an original release price of USD $650.00.
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.