Gauntlet Gallery — Martha Cooper Print Index
Obey X Cope2 x Cooper (First edition)
Summary
This 2011 screen print is a three-way collaboration signed by Shepard Fairey, COPE2, and Martha Cooper. Released on April 21, 2011 at 18 x 24 inches in a numbered edition of 450, it merges Fairey's OBEY graphic language, COPE2's Bronx graffiti pedigree, and Cooper's documentary photography into a single triple-signed sheet.
Why It Matters
Triple-signed collaborations across a poster artist, a graffiti writer, and a documentary photographer are uncommon and highly collectible. Three recognizable names on one 450-edition screen print broadens its audience considerably. The piece captures a specific moment when Fairey's OBEY platform actively cross-pollinated with graffiti and photography figures Cooper had long documented.
Collector Perspective
Verify all three signatures and the edition number within the run of 450, as multi-signature prints are occasionally offered incomplete or misdescribed. Original release was affordable with a one-per-household limit, meaning many entered private hands directly. Condition, flatness, and clean margins on the 18 x 24 sheet are the primary factors collectors should assess.
Historical Context
Shepard Fairey's Subliminal Projects and OBEY frequently released collaborative prints in this era. COPE2 is a veteran Bronx writer active since the late 1970s, and Cooper photographed that generation of writers. The 2011 edition unites the aesthetic, the subculture, and the chronicler, reflecting how street art's histories converged in the print market.
FAQ
Who signed this print?
It is signed by Shepard Fairey, COPE2, and Martha Cooper.
What is the edition size?
It is a numbered edition of 450.
When was it released?
It was released on April 21, 2011, at a price of $60 with a limit of one per person or household.
What is the size and medium?
It is an 18 x 24 inch screen print.
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.