The Man Who Walks Through Walls AP Artist Proof Silkscreen Print by Shepard Fairey- OBEY x Blek le Rat Hand-Pulled on Fine Art Paper Limited Edition Pop Street Art Artwork.
AP Artist Proof 2008 Signed by Shepard Fairey & Blek le Rat & Marked AP, Limited Edition Artwork Size 18x24 Silkscreen Print.
Shepard Fairey x Blek le Rat The Man Who Walks Through Walls AP Silkscreen Print 2008
The 2008 The Man Who Walks Through Walls AP Artist Proof silkscreen print is a rare collaboration between Shepard Fairey, internationally recognized as OBEY, and stencil pioneer Blek le Rat. Hand-pulled on fine art paper and measuring 18 x 24 inches, this limited edition Artist Proof was signed by both artists and marked “AP,” distinguishing it from the standard numbered edition of 100. As an Artist Proof, it holds particular value among collectors of Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork, symbolizing both artistic experimentation and the direct approval of the creators.
Imagery and Urban Context
The composition combines stark stencil work with a heavily graffitied wall, embedding the artwork within the raw energy of urban life. At the center, a suited man carries bags labeled with text, positioned alongside a goat, while a police officer passes in the foreground. To the right, a telephone booth punctuates the scene, grounding the work in the everyday architecture of the city. The layering of graffiti tags, political scrawls, and the surreal juxtaposition of figures evoke themes of consumerism, authority, and rebellion. The suited figure in particular hints at urban alienation, while the presence of the goat and booth adds absurdity, making the composition at once humorous and sharply critical.
Collaboration Between Shepard Fairey and Blek le Rat
Blek le Rat, born Xavier Prou in 1951 in France, is widely credited as the father of stencil graffiti, bringing social commentary directly into the streets of Paris beginning in the 1980s. Shepard Fairey, born in 1970 in Charleston, South Carolina, built his reputation through his OBEY sticker campaign and politically engaged prints, including the Hope poster of Barack Obama. Their collaborative works, such as The Man Who Walks Through Walls, highlight a shared belief in the role of public art as a platform for protest and dialogue. The merging of Fairey’s graphic sensibilities with Blek’s direct stencil approach emphasizes the continuity between two generations of politically minded street artists.
Rarity and Significance of the Artist Proof
The Artist Proof edition carries special weight within the print world, typically produced in very small quantities and often retained by the artists. Signed by both Shepard Fairey and Blek le Rat and marked AP, this print holds heightened collectible value and authenticity. Beyond rarity, its imagery and collaborative nature underscore the strength of street art as a vehicle for political and cultural critique. The Man Who Walks Through Walls AP silkscreen print is not just a fine art object but also a vivid statement on urban culture, consumerism, and resistance, making it a defining example within the history of Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork.
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