AK47 1

Work Summary & Collector Notes

The Obey AK-47 diptych was created in 1998 when I was first learning how to use Illustrator on a Mac. I scanned the gun and did the rest of the design in Illustrator. I was in my phase of emulating the style of Russian Constructivist propaganda art which was very powerful aesthetically and economical to produce because of the minimal color palette. I also was amused that because of the Cold War, Americans were conditioned to fear anything with a Soviet association. After studying Phenomenology, one of my premises was that people judge things superficially, so it is easy to provoke them with art that looks sinister even though it is benevolent. Conversely, I was concerned that people are too easily seduced by things that have a superficial appeal, but are actually peddling something sinister. I’m pro-peace, but I knew the inclusion of rows of AK-47 rifles would be ominous to viewers and make them ask questions. To save money I used one piece of film and Rubylith to make this diptych. I simply flipped the film and cut the GIANT and 7’4”520LB out so the OBEY text reversed symmetrically, but the GIANT and 7’4”520LB still read correctly. The two sides were printed one at a time. I didn’t sell many sets of these prints because my friend John Goff opened a record store called The Way Out Sound in San Diego, where I was living, and asked me to do a poster installation on the walls of the store. I used about 40 sets of the AK-47 diptych in the store and it closed after less than a year. Oh well! -Shepard

Collector notes: Edition of 100; saved release record states an edition size of 100. Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet groups this work under Peace and anti-war for discovery; that category is a navigation aid, not an authentication conclusion.

Documented Release Details

Object type

Editioned screenprint

Release date

1998

Release-date note

Catalog-listed release year/date from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.

Medium and materials

Screen Print; catalog dimensions 18 x 24 inches.

Edition details

Edition of 100; saved release record states an edition size of 100.

Signature and marks

Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering 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: Fairey's practice combines propaganda-style imagery, political and countercultural themes, and a recurring OBEY vocabulary. Subject-specific intent is not assumed here unless the release record states it. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.

Release context: The saved catalog lists 1998 and attributes the edition to Obey Giant.

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Shepard Fairey — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
4. Shepard Fairey (Q1142847) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.