Gauntlet Gallery — Jamie Reid Print Index
God Save The USA (Swastika Eyes)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
'God Save The USA (Swastika Eyes)' is a 2017 screen print, stained with red and blue, hand-distressed and folded, in an edition of 313 at 71 x 52 cm. Each is signed and numbered. It transplants Reid's defaced-portrait 'Swastika Eyes' device onto American iconography for a pointed transatlantic critique.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Edition of 313 signed and numbered by the artist. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
The 'Swastika Eyes' treatment, echoing Reid's original Queen defacement, is here turned on the United States, making the print a sharp comment on American politics in 2017. As part of the 313-edition series with matching hand-finishing, it belongs to a coherent group interrogating power on both sides of the Atlantic.
Collector Perspective
This piece pairs naturally with the companion 'God Save The Queen 2017 (Swastika Eyes)' print, and collectors sometimes seek both. The distressing and folding are intentional. Confirm signature and numbering, and note the shared 313 edition and hand-finished treatment across the series.
Historical Context
The swastika-eyes device recalls Reid's provocative 1977 defacements, deploying shock symbolism to indict authority. Applying it to 'The USA' in 2017 responded to a turbulent moment in American politics. The work shows Reid globalising a visual tactic first honed against the British monarchy.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2017
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Screen Print; catalog dimensions 71 x 52 cm.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Edition of 313 signed and numbered by the artist.
- 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 Jamie Reid'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: The swastika-eyes device recalls Reid's provocative 1977 defacements, deploying shock symbolism to indict authority. 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 2017 and attributes the edition to L-13 Light Industrial Workshop.
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 L-13 Light Industrial Workshop. 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.
- Jamie Reid — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Jamie Reid (Q2138987) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
What device does it use?
The 'Swastika Eyes' defacement, applied to American iconography.
What is its companion piece?
'God Save The Queen 2017 (Swastika Eyes)' shares the same treatment and edition size.
What is the edition size?
313, signed and numbered, hand-distressed and folded.
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