Learn To Obey

Work Summary & Collector Notes

It makes me very happy when art, music, and politics come together. I was first moved by the powerful combination of those elements on the “Let Them Eat Jellybeans” hardcore compilation with music by Black Flag, Bad Brains, The Dead Kennedys, and the Circle Jerks, with art by Winston Smith. The Circle Jerks soon became a favorite of mine and I found out that their vocalist, Keith Morris, had been the first singer of Black Flag. I saw the Circle Jerks many times over the years in S. Carolina, Rhode Island, and LA. A few years ago, Keith formed a new band, OFF! with guys from other bands I like including The Burning Brides, Red Kross, and The Blackheart Procession. OFF! totally rock and have a killer vintage hardcore sound, but they sound fresh. I was incredibly honored that after visiting my studio, Keith and Dimitri from OFF! suggested that we collaborate on a 7-³ where they’d write a song inspired by my art. I was blown away by the idea, but instead, they ended up writing the song inspired by the themes in my art first, and then I created the art to fit the song! The result is the Learn To Obey 45 that comes out on Record Store Day. I’m also doing a poster that will come out around the same time. I love the way the music turned out, and I’m proud to have my art associated with OFF!, especially since art genius Raymond Pettibon, one of my favorites, usually does the art for OFF! I kept my approach to the art reverent to Pettibon, but irreverent to greed. Check it out. -Shepard

Collector notes: Edition of 450; saved release record states an edition size of 450. 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 Music and counterculture for discovery; that category is a navigation aid, not an authentication conclusion.

Documented Release Details

Object type

Editioned screenprint

Release date

2014

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 450; saved release record states an edition size of 450.

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 2014 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.