Gauntlet Gallery — Hijack Print Index
Wake Up! (First edition)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
"Wake Up!" (First Edition), released in 2013, marks Hijack's debut silkscreen and the moment the young Los Angeles artist stepped out from under Mr. Brainwash's wing. Hand-finished and issued in an edition of 96 at 22.5 x 30 inches, it distills his early ethos: bright, encouraging messaging built to jolt a viewer into awareness.
Collector notes: First edition; saved release record states an edition size of 96. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
Every artist's catalogue has a starting point, and for Hijack this is it — the first print he ever put to paper. As a debut of 96, it carries the origin-story weight collectors prize: the piece that establishes the vocabulary of positivity and street-honed graphics that later Hijack editions build upon. First prints anchor an artist's market narrative.
Collector Perspective
Debut editions attract collectors who want the root of an artist's story rather than a later, larger release. At 96 hand-finished impressions, no two are identical, which rewards close inspection of the individual sheet. Condition, the hand-finishing quality, and clean signature and numbering are the details worth weighing before acquiring this first Hijack.
Historical Context
In 2013 Hijack was a 20-year-old artist introduced to the market through Mr. Brainwash, the figure behind "Exit Through the Gift Shop." That lineage placed Hijack squarely in the post-Banksy Los Angeles street-art current, where uplifting, message-driven imagery and hand-finished screenprints were the shared language. "Wake Up!" is his entry into that conversation.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2013
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Screen Print | Hand Finished; catalog dimensions 22.5 x 30 inches; Brainwash is proud to introduce Hijack, an aspiring young artist, and his first silkscreen print; An original print based on Hijack's positive minded works and encouraging messages; "Wake Up!" is a five-color screen print on hand torn archival art paper, hand finished with spray paint. Each print is signed and numbered, with a thumb print on the back.
- Edition details
- First edition; saved release record states an edition size of 96.
- 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: This page treats Hijack's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: Read as documented context rather than stated intent: In 2013 Hijack was a 20-year-old artist introduced to the market through Mr. This is an interpretive reading of the release context, not a statement of the artist's intent for this specific work. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2013 and attributes the edition to Mr Brainwash (Self Released). The saved description also notes: He recently held a sold out gallery exhibition in London, England.
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 Mr Brainwash (Self Released). 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, year, edition, dimensions, medium, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- Meet Hijack, the Street Artist — Artnet News · editorial reference · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Editorial profile; general artist-level biographical and career reference.
FAQ
Is this really Hijack's first print?
Yes. "Wake Up!" (First Edition) from 2013 is documented as Hijack's first silkscreen print, released when he was introduced to the market by Mr. Brainwash at age 20.
How large is the edition?
The edition is 96. Each impression is hand-finished, so individual sheets vary from one another.
What does "hand-finished" mean here?
Beyond the silkscreen printing, each sheet received additional manual work by the artist, making every impression in the edition of 96 slightly unique.
What is the sheet size?
The print measures 22.5 x 30 inches.
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