Shepard Fairey – Lennon Peace And Liberty (Blue) - Lithograph - 2023 - Limited & numbered edition

Shepard Fairey – Lennon Peace And Liberty (Blue)

Artwork in excellent condition signed and dated by Shepard Fairey and Bob Gruen

Original photos of the artwork for sale.
You are buying exactly what is photographed.

Artwork limited to 300 copies

Words from Shepard Fairey:
John Lennon is a hero to me, both for his exceptional music and for his militant engagement. With the Beatles, he wrote powerful songs, among which “Revolution”, “Happiness is a Warm Gun”, “Come Together”, “Dear Prudence” and “All You Need is Love”. It is, however, as a solo artist that he produced some of his strongest and most daring works. Tracks like “Imagine”, “Gimme Some Truth”, “Instant Karma”, “Give Peace a Chance”, “Power To The People” or “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” reflect a deep reflection on humanity’s struggles. These songs made remarkable statements; moreover, Lennon and Yoko Ono funded campaigns, such as “WAR IS OVER”, aimed at promoting peace and ending the Vietnam War. Because of their political beliefs, John and Yoko were harassed, and the American government, under the Nixon administration, repeatedly tried to have Lennon expelled. In this context, the photograph of John Lennon in front of the Statue of Liberty, taken by Bob Gruen, takes on a particularly striking dimension. Lennon saw himself as a citizen of the world, a passionate advocate for peace and liberty. The Statue of Liberty, symbolizing also welcoming immigrants to the United States, the very idea of expelling Lennon becomes all the more troubling when viewed in relation to this monument. I have admired Bob Gruen’s work since my adolescence; he captured the Sex Pistols and the Clash with incredible shots. His work is remarkably rich, his photographs often documenting major figures and decisive moments in culture. It is an honor for me to collaborate with Bob on these prints devoted to Lennon.

Words from Bob Gruen:
The American government, under President Richard Nixon, regarded John Lennon as a political threat because he championed peace during a time of war. The authorities then sought to have him expelled from the country. I personally found this unjust; and, seeing in the Statue of Liberty a symbol of welcome to the United States, I felt that a photograph of John Lennon in front of this monument would better illuminate his situation and his wish to remain in the country. I suggested to John that he take a photo in front of the statue, and I was delighted that he agreed. I believe this photograph is so popular today because people see John Lennon as a symbol of individual freedom, just as they see the Statue of Liberty.

Artwork stored flat under a plastic sleeve in a professional binder and in a non-smoking area.

Carefully packed in a solid tube and shipped with tracking number.

Shepard Fairey (Obey) is one of the major artists of contemporary street art. His powerful graphic style, mixing visual propaganda and social engagement, has marked urban art worldwide. Fairey shares artistic and thematic proximity with figures such as Banksy, Invader, Vhils, Blek le Rat, PichiAvo, C215 or Seen, all recognized for their decisive influence on urban culture and the evolution of contemporary art.
He has created works paying tribute to John Lennon, Lemmy Kilmister, Johnny Ramone, Bob Marley, James Brown, Ian Curtis and has collaborated with Ozzy Osbourne and Henry Rollins.