*APC ART is proud to present an iconic contemporary portrait by one of the most influential American artists of our time, **Shepard Fairey (OBEY)**, titled **“Heavyweight Ideals (Muhammad Ali).”***

Executed as a **hand-pulled silkscreen print in colors on #80 cream Speckletone paper**, this powerful work measures **24 inches x 18 inches** and is **hand-signed, dated, and numbered in graphite pencil by the artist** along the lower margin, inscribed **“Shepard Fairey ’23.”** The work is from the edition of **500** and was **published directly by the artist**, a critical distinction for collectors who prioritize direct provenance and long-term value.

**Shepard Fairey is widely regarded as one of — if not *the* — most influential American contemporary artists of the last several decades.** His impact on visual culture is virtually unparalleled, spanning fine art, street art, graphic design, political activism, and global branding. Fairey first captured international attention with his seminal **“Andre the Giant Has a Posse”** campaign in the late 1980s — a radical act of visual disruption that questioned authority, propaganda, and mass consumption. What began as a simple sticker evolved into the foundation of the now-iconic **OBEY** brand, a cultural force that permanently altered how art could exist in public space.

The **OBEY** name itself has become synonymous with contemporary counterculture — bridging art, fashion, music, and political discourse. Few artists in history have successfully built a brand that maintains both underground credibility and institutional legitimacy. Fairey’s work was further immortalized in **Banksy’s *Exit Through the Gift Shop***, where he appears as a central figure in the narrative of modern street art’s rise into the global spotlight.

Fairey’s collector base is vast and international, encompassing **major private collectors, museums, institutions, musicians, actors, designers, and cultural tastemakers worldwide**. His works are held in the permanent collections of the **Smithsonian Institution, MoMA, LACMA, the Victoria & Albert Museum**, and countless others. Demand for his portrait works remains especially strong, as they combine instantly recognizable subjects with Fairey’s unmistakable visual language.

*“Heavyweight Ideals (Muhammad Ali)”* is a quintessential Shepard Fairey portrait — bold, layered, and culturally charged. Ali is presented not only as a boxing legend, but as a global symbol of conviction, strength, resistance, and moral clarity. Fairey’s signature palette of cream, red, blue, and black is paired with ornamental patterning, symbolic text, and graphic motifs that elevate the portrait beyond likeness into iconography. This image was accompanied by a large-scale public mural, reinforcing Fairey’s longstanding commitment to placing powerful imagery directly into the public realm.

Fairey’s portraits are among his **most sought-after works**, prized for their immediacy, cultural relevance, and enduring visual impact. This example — **hand-signed, hand-numbered, and dated by the artist** — represents an exceptional opportunity to acquire a museum-caliber work at an accessible scale. With sustained institutional recognition and continued global demand, this work stands as a **strong investment-grade acquisition**.

The work is **in hand in the United States and will ship immediately**, professionally packed and fully insured.

*APC ART is pleased to offer archival framing options*, including museum-grade UV-protective glazing and custom framing solutions designed to preserve and present the work at the highest standard.

*OFFERED EXCLUSIVELY BY APC ART* 
*MIA. ATL. NYC. LA. LONDON. PARIS. TOKYO.*

Provenance

Purchased directly from the artist upon release. Included with the work is the “Obey Manifesto”. 

Condition

The work is in mint condition. We have stored the work flat to archival standard.