Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Shepard Fairey Print Index
Clem Burke Sonic DNA
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Clem Burke Sonic DNA is a 2025 letterpress tribute print honoring Clem Burke, the drummer of Blondie, based on photos by Bobby Grossman. Measuring 12 x 16 inches on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges, it is a signed, numbered first edition of 500, published by Obey Giant at $90, and features the Obey publishing chop in the lower left corner. Fairey describes Blondie as part of his musical DNA and shares personal stories of his friendship with Burke. Rendered via letterpress rather than screen print, the work functions as a memorial portrait. Each comes with a Verisart Digital Certificate of Authenticity.
Collector notes: First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 500. 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:
“I was honored to create this tribute print of Clem Burke, the powerhouse drummer of Blondie, based on a couple of photos by Bobby Grossman. Blondie is part of my musical DNA. Clem, Chris, Debbie, the core members of Blondie —are all heroes of mine, but we're talking about Clem right now. My first almost encounter with Clem was in Los Angeles when our studio was in the Wiltern Theater building. I used to park at the top of the parking garage, and one day, I pulled up in what I thought was my space, only to find a sign that said "Reserved for Clem Burke." I thought maybe I should just hang out
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print or object
- Release date
- 2025-10-09
- 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 16 x 12 in.
- Edition details
- First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 500.
- 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: “I was honored to create this tribute print of Clem Burke, the powerhouse drummer of Blondie, based on a couple of photos by Bobby Grossman. Blondie is part of my musical DNA. Clem, Chris, Debbie, the core members of Blondie —are all heroes of mine, but we're talking about Clem right now. My first almost encounter with Clem was in Los Angeles when our studio was in the Wiltern Theater building. I used to park at the top of the parking garage, and one day, I pulled up in what I thought was my space, only to find a sign that said "Reserved for Clem Burke." I thought maybe I should just hang out. 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 2025-10-09 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 $90.00.
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.