SHEPARD FAIREY
Untied States
HEAVY METAL
An exhibit of works on metal by Shepard Fairey
Saturday, March 4th – Friday, April 7th 2023
Black Book Gallery is pleased to announce Heavy Metal, a solo exhibition by Shepard Fairey featuring works on metal culled from the past twenty years of the artist’s prolific and prescient career. The exhibition will include rare pieces for sale, such as retired letterpress plates and mono engraving plates, neither of which have ever been made available to collectors before.
Heavy Metal will open on Saturday, March 4th with a reception from 6-10pm and remain on view until Friday, April 7th. There will be a closing reception on April 7th from 6-9pm. Both receptions are free and open to the public.
Black Book Gallery and Shepard Fairey first worked together in 2008 on an art exhibition entitled Manifest Hope, in conjunction with the Democratic National Convention. That same year, Shepard created the now iconic Obama Hope image, which has since become one of the most recognizable artworks in US history.
Building on the success of his Hope poster, Shepard’s work over the past fifteen years has brought critical awareness to many socio-political and environmental issues that the artist addresses through his use of symbolic graphics, typography, and stylized portraiture. For Shepard, however, the process is just as important as aesthetics, especially when it comes to the printing press itself, a deceptively humble tool with revolutionary origins as a DIY modus for political dissent and resistance.
In the artist’s words:
“I’ve always been fascinated by mechanical and industrial printing and more primitive methods of image reproduction like screen printing and stenciling. Printing is a very effective and powerful way to disseminate and democratize art.
I love not just when form and function merge harmoniously, but the idea of highlighting that symbiotic relationship.
“While in art school at RISD, I took etching and lithography classes and noticed how beautiful the metal plates could be, especially the thicker etching plates with acid-etched relief. In 1999 l went to see Barbara Kruger’s retrospective at LA MOCA. The show featured beautiful metal relief plates usually used for letterpress or other relief printing. I was mesmerized by the weight and beauty of the metal and its implications as a means of mass production. Kruger’s metal pieces inspired me, but because I could not afford to have relief plates made of my images, I set out to find a more affordable way to replicate the aesthetics and textures of a printing plate.
My experiments eventually led me to print with translucent acrylic ink on industrial aluminum plates that were sanded and dipped in a chemical that accelerated aging and yielded a charming patina. The results allowed the texture of the metal to remain visible through the inks. The effect looked very similar to an etching plate. I have continued to refine this technique over 23 years. I also make many letterpress prints requiring a metal relief plate, and I’ve transformed some of those relief plates into art pieces included in the show. The processes I use for my work logically flow from my philosophy of disseminating my art broadly. The works in Heavy Metal embody this principle by calling attention to the tools of printing itself.”
Heavy Metal will include Shepard’s works on metal dating back to the year 2000 and feature the artist’s signature motifs, from agitprop-style portraits to hijacked advertising imagery and deadpan OBEY messaging. While Shepard’s works often incorporate an allegorical color palette of proletariat reds and vintage blues, his more recent prints on metal employ a monochromatic silver tone that complements the metal substrate while amplifying the mechanical process of printmaking. The retired letterpress plates featured in Heavy Metal essentially act as wall-mounted sculptural reliefs—a meta-homage to the medium itself.
Over the course of Shepard’s inimitable career—from his hand-pasted OBEY origins, which satirically critiqued “gen pop” society and Big Brother, to his murals championing social justice that occupy entire city blocks—his work has taken aim at the institutions of power that weaponize visual language as a means of propaganda and social control by repurposing that same visual language. To that end, Shepard has created hundreds of images across a variety of formats, including: limited edition screen prints on paper/wood/metal, stencil collages, letterpress prints, hand painted multiples (HPMs), rubyliths, and more. Heavy Metal thus offers a retrospective of the artist’s unparalleled creative output by utilizing the medium of metal as a curatorial lens.
Shepard Fairey was born in 1970 in Charleston, South Carolina. While an art student at RISD in the early 1990s, his “Andre the Giant has a Posse” street-art campaign went viral, spreading across the urban landscape in the US and elsewhere in the form of stickers, fliers, and wheat-paste posters. Considered one of the pioneers of contemporary urban art, Shepard Fairey’s works have been exhibited at major museums and festivals worldwide and are in the permanent collections of notable institutions including The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C., The Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, among many others. The artist lives and works in Los Angeles, California
Expanding on the legacies of artists such as Keith Haring and Andy Warhol, Shepard Fairey’s practice disrupts the distinction between fine and commercial art. A major artist of the street art movement, Fairey rose to prominence in the early 1990s through the dispersion of posters, stickers, and murals, related to his Obey Giant campaign, which yielded an international cultural phenomenon. Fairey’s iconic poster of President Barack Obama was adopted as the official emblem associated with the presidential campaign and encapsulates a number of recurring concerns in the artist’s work, including propaganda, portraiture, and political power.
American, b. 1970, Charleston, South Carolina, based in Los Angeles, California
“Peace Guard 2 Stencil (Lisbon)” Test Plate
Media: Mono-Engraving on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 24 x 36 Inches
Edition: Unique
Year: 2017 – Signed & Dated
Price: $7,000
Availability: Inquire
“Freedom of Choice” Test Plate
Media: Mono-Engraving on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: Unique
Year: 2017 – Signed & Dated
Price: $5,000
Availability: Inquire
“Printing Press” Test Plate
Media: Mono-Engraving on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 24 x 36 Inches
Edition: Unique
Year: 2017 – Signed & Dated
Availability: SOLD
“Abstract AK-47 Lotus”
Media: Ink on retired Letterpress plate
Size: 10 x 16 Inches
Edition: Unique
Year: 2022 – Signed & Dated
Availability: SOLD
“Flower. Dove. Lotus.”
Media: Ink on retired Letterpress plate
Size: 15.5 x 18 Inches – 24 x 26.5 Inches Framed
Edition: Unique
Year: 2022 – Signed & Dated
Availability: SOLD
“OBEY Magnifying Glass” Test Plate
Media: Ink on retired letterpress place
Size: 8 x 10 Inches
Edition: Unique
Year: 2022 – Signed & Dated
Availability: SOLD
“Post Punk Flowers”
Media: Ink on retired Letterpress plate
Size: 11 x 16.75 Inches
Edition: Unique
Year: 2022 – Signed & Dated
Availability: SOLD
“A Champion of Justice” (Ruth Bader Ginsburg)
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 2/3
Year: 2021 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: SOLD
“American Rage”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 3/3
Year: 2020 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: Inquire
“Angel of Hope and Strength”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: Artist Proof
Year: 2020 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: SOLD
Shepard Fairey
“Debbie Harry” Stencil Collage
Media: Spray paint and collage on paper
Size: 30 x 44 Inches – Unframed
Year: 2004 – Signed & Dated
Availability: Inquire
“Wake Up” (Cream)
Media: Silkscreen and collage on wood panel – HPM
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: AP – Artist Proof
Year: 2017 – Signed & Dated
Price: $5,000
Availability: Inquire
“Classic Discs” (Cream)
Media: Silkscreen and collage on wood panel – HPM
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 6/6
Year: 2013 – Signed & Dated
Price: $5,000
Availability: Inquire
“Disposable Heroes”
Media: Silkscreen and collage on wood panel – HPM
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 4/6
Year: 2012 – Signed & Dated
Price: $5,000
Availability: Inquire
“Smoke ‘EM While You Got ‘EM”
Media: Silkscreen on wood panel
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: AP – Artist Proof
Year: 2015 – Signed & Dated
Price: $4,000
Availability: SOLD
“Catch a Fire”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 1/3
Year: 2020 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: Inquire
“Chinese Stencil”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 2/2
Year: 2000 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: SOLD
“Dove Ripped”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 2/3
Year: 2021 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: SOLD
“God Save the Queen”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 1/3
Year: 2012 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: SOLD
“Hello My Name Is”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 1/3
Year: 2019 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: SOLD
“Jasper Johns” (Silver)
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: Artist Proof
Year: 2010 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: Inquire
“John Lewis – Good Trouble”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 2/3
Year: 2020 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: Inquire
“Kurt Cobain – Endless Nameless”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 1/3
Year: 2021 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: Inquire
“Lemmy Damaged Case”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 1/3
Year: 2021 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: Inquire
“Lotus Angel”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 3/3
Year: 2020 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: SOLD
Shepard Fairey
“AK-47 Lotus”
Media: HPM – Silkscreen and mixed media collage on paper
Size: 30 x 41 Inches – Unframed
76 x 104 Centimeters
Edition: 7/10
Year: 2022 – Signed & Dated
Availability: SOLD
Shepard Fairey
“AR-15 Lily”
Media: HPM – Silkscreen and mixed media collage on paper
Size: 30 x 41 Inches – Unframed
76 x 104 Centimeters
Edition: 7/10
Year: 2022 – Signed & Dated
Availability: SOLD
“OBEY Conformity Factory” (Red)
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 2/3
Year: 2020 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: Inquire
“OBEY Fire Sale”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 2/3
Year: 2019 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: SOLD
“Peace and Justice Summit”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 2/3
Year: 2018 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: Inquire
“Peace Fingers Floral” (Pattern)
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 3/3
Year: 2019 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: SOLD
“Peace Guard 2”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 1/3
Year: 2018 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: SOLD
“Protect Biodiversity – Cultivate Harmony” (Pattern)
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 2/3
Year: 2021 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: Inquire
“Radical Peace”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 2/3
Year: 2021 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: SOLD
“Ramone Poster”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 2/2
Year: 2002 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: SOLD
“RI Bridge”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 2/2
Year: 2001 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: SOLD
“Rise Above Flower”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 2/3
Year: 2022 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: SOLD
“San Francisco Banner”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: Artist Proof
Year: 2000 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: Inquire
“Shadowplay”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 2/3
Year: 2019 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: SOLD
“Snoop D-O Double G”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 1/3
Year: 2020 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: SOLD
“Wrong Path”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: Artist Proof
Year: 2018 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: SOLD
“The Future is Unwritten Collage”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 2/3
Year: 2022 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: Inquire
“Tracks Poster”
Media: Silkscreen on metal (Aluminum)
Size: 18 x 24 Inches
Edition: 1/2
Year: 2001 – Signed & Dated
Price: $3,500
Availability: SOLD
Media: Silkscreen and mixed media collage on paper (HPM)
Size: 30 x 41 x 3 Inches
76cm x 104cm x 5cm
Edition: 15/19
Year: 2019
Signed & Dated
Price: $11,500
Inquire
Media: Silkscreen and mixed media collage on paper (HPM)
Size: 30 x 41 x 3 Inches
76cm x 104cm x 5cm
Edition: 15/19
Year: 2019
Signed & Dated
Price: $11,500
Inquire
Media: Silkscreen and mixed media collage on paper (HPM)
Size: 30 x 41 x 3 Inches
76cm x 104cm x 5cm
Edition: 15/19
Year: 2019
Signed & Dated
Price: $11,500
Inquire
Shepard Fairey – Hong Kong Visuals
Media: HPM – Silkscreen and mixed media collage on wood panel
Size: 18 x 24 x 1.5 Inches
Edition: 4/6
Year: 2016
Price: $5,000
Availability: SOLD
Shepard Fairey – Tunnel Vision (Gold)
Media: Silkscreen on wood panel
Size: 24 x 18 x 1.5 Inches
Edition: Edition of 6
Year: 2018
Price: $3200
Availability: SOLD
Shepard Fairey – Obey Salad Days
Media: HPM – Silkscreen and mixed media collage on wood panel
Size: 18 x 24 x 1.5 Inches
Edition: Edition of 6
Year: 2018
Price: $3750
Availability: SOLD
Shepard Fairey – Peace Guard 2
Media: HPM – Silkscreen and mixed media collage on wood panel
Size: 18 x 24 x 1.5 Inches
Edition: Edition of 6
Year: 2016
Availability: SOLD
Shepard Fairey – America’s Savings
Media: HPM – Silkscreen and mixed media collage on wood panel
Size: 18 x 24 x 1.5 Inches
Edition: Edition 4/6
Year: 2016
Availability: SOLD
Shepard Fairey – End Corruption
Media: HPM – Silkscreen and mixed media collage on wood panel
Size: 18 x 24 x 1.5 Inches
Edition: Edition 5/6
Year: 2015
Availability: SOLD
Shepard Fairey – Capital Gain
Media: Silkscreen on wood panel
Size: 18 x 24 x 1.5 Inches
Edition: Edition 5/6
Year: 2016
Availability: SOLD
Shepard Fairey – Raise The Caliber (Rise Above)
Media: Silkscreen on wood panel
Size: 18 x 24 x 1.5 Inches
Edition: Edition of 6
Year: 2015
Availability: SOLD
Shepard Fairey – Keep It Underground
Media: Silkscreen on wood panel
Size: 18 x 24 x 1.5 Inches
Edition: Edition of 6
Year: 2015
Availability: SOLD