'Issue No. 0051' by Shepard Fairey, 2009
Limited Edition book + print set collab. with publisher Arkitip.
7.75 x 10.75 x 0.5 Inches
19.7 x 27.3 x 1.3 Centimeters
4-color offset printed book, perfect bound. 96 pages + stencil cover.
Hand-packaged and Limited Edition of 5000 (#Unk/5000).
Hand-numbered on reverse.
Also includes three 7.5 x 10 in. silkscreen prints:
'Obey Eye' (black)
'Obey Order of Independent Artisans'
'May Day Flag'
Designed and printed specifically for this edition.
Each print is hand-signed and dated by the artist.
Comes in original box with original sticker seal.
*Note: UNOPENED box shows age, handling. Seal intact.
ABOUT THE ART
In 2009 Shepard/OBEY collaborated with Arkitip on an exclusive issue reviewing the then current artwork featured in the Boston ICA 20 year survey and all of the outdoor installation that came along with the exhibition. It also included a selection of the newest fine art pieces of that time. The issue was a truly a classic release as it was a reunion collaboration that we had not seen since Arkitip’s issue edition No. 0003. OBEY recently acquired a few of these issues and decided to revive the collaboration with an addition of a new MAY DAY Flag print. The issue now comes with 3 prints; all 7.5 x 10 inches and Signed by Shepard.
Shepard Fairey is arguably the most famous artist of the Arkitip Alumni group, and could quite possibly be the artist most remembered of his generation. We celebrate Shepard’s methods not only because they are beautiful and effective but also because he took on the mainstream art establishment and after 20 long years, he seems to be winning.
His recent rise to popularity punctuated by his support of the Obama Presidential campaign has made Shepard Fairey a household name. His iconic portrait of Barack Obama has come to symbolize the historic campaign of the first African American to be elected President and now that image graces the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian. He’s an artist who stands by what he believes in and has done more to communicate his causes to the masses than most of his contemporaries, which is admirable on any level. His campaigns have done more to shape the public consciousness than any other artist because you don’t have go to a gallery to see his work, its ubiquity is well established.
This issue will be truly historic, as we celebrate 20 Years of Shepard’s seminal ‘Obey’ campaign. Because Shepard has not been a guest of Arkitip magazine since issue edition No. 0003, this reunion collaboration has been long overdue and is a guaranteed to be another groundbreaking Arkitip classic.