Gauntlet Gallery — Martha Cooper Print Index
Defiant Youth
Summary
Defiant Youth is a 2009 screen print released through Shepard Fairey's Subliminal Projects, drawing on Martha Cooper's photography. Issued on June 9, 2009 at 18 x 24 inches in a signed and numbered edition of 450, it translates Cooper's documentary image of youth culture into Fairey's screen-printed graphic idiom.
Why It Matters
The collaboration places Cooper's documentary eye within the OBEY print ecosystem, a pairing that expanded her reach to poster and street-art collectors. A signed edition of 450 keeps it accessible while retaining collectible status. The title and subject connect directly to Cooper's lifelong focus on young people asserting identity through street culture.
Collector Perspective
Confirm the signature and numbering within the 450 run. As a Subliminal Projects release originally sold at $55, many examples circulated widely, so condition separates strong copies from ordinary ones: look for clean corners, no light exposure fading, and a flat, uncreased sheet. Provenance tied to the original 2009 release adds confidence.
Historical Context
By 2009, Shepard Fairey was regularly issuing collaborative screen prints that reinterpreted photographs by artists he admired. Cooper's images of defiant, self-possessed youth aligned naturally with OBEY's rebellious visual politics. The edition reflects the late-2000s moment when documentary street photography and poster-art printmaking became closely intertwined in the collector market.
FAQ
What is the edition size?
It is a signed and numbered edition of 450.
When was it released?
It went on sale June 9, 2009, at a price of $55.
What is the size and medium?
It is an 18 x 24 inch screen print.
How does Martha Cooper relate to this print?
The print draws on Cooper's documentary photography, released as a screen print through Shepard Fairey's Subliminal Projects.
About the Artist
Martha Cooper (born 1943 in Baltimore) is an American photojournalist celebrated for documenting New York City graffiti and street culture in the 1970s and 1980s. A former New York Post staff photographer, she co-authored the landmark 1984 book "Subway Art" with Henry Chalfant, which became a foundational document of graffiti culture worldwide. Her images preserved a transient art form and influenced generations of writers. Cooper continues to photograph street art and urban life globally, and her archive is recognized as an essential visual record of hip-hop and graffiti history.
Collecting Martha Cooper at Gauntlet Gallery
What should I look for when buying a Martha Cooper photograph?
Seek signed archival or gelatin silver prints with clear edition information, print date, and format. Many of her most famous images from "Subway Art" exist as later signed editions, so confirm the printing and edition size. Gauntlet Gallery documents the print type, edition details, and condition for each Cooper photograph.
How is a Martha Cooper print authenticated?
Authentication depends on the artist's signature, edition numbering, and provenance from a gallery, publisher, or the studio, plus any certificate provided. Matching a print to a documented edition is the key check. Gauntlet Gallery includes the available paperwork and provenance and states the printing method for each work.
What drives value in Martha Cooper's work?
Value is led by her most iconic graffiti and hip-hop images, vintage prints, small edition sizes, signature, and condition. Photographs tied directly to "Subway Art" and the early NYC scene attract the strongest interest. Signed, well-preserved limited editions with solid provenance hold value best.