Artwork Description
Bad Brains Punk Showcase Rasta AP Artist Proof 5-Color Hand-Pulled Limited Edition Silkscreen Print on Cream Speckle Tone Paper by Shepard Fairey Rare Street Art OBEY Pop Artwork Artist For Musicians Bad Brains.
AP Artist Proof 2016 Signed & Marked AP Limited Edition Artwork Size 18x24
Shepard Fairey's "Bad Brains Punk Showcase Rasta AP" is a culturally potent piece within the street pop and graffiti art landscape. As an artist proof of the limited edition series, this 5-color hand-pulled silkscreen print on cream speckle tone paper measures 18x24 inches and was released in 2016. Signed and marked as an artist-proof (AP), it is a collector's piece that delves into the pulsating heart of punk's ethos and reggae's rasta vibrations, manifested through the lens of Fairey's distinct style. This artwork resonates with the energy of Bad Brains, a band that epitomized the hardcore punk scene with its unique blend of punk and reggae, a hybrid that paralleled Fairey's melding of art forms. The print captures the band's spirit with the commanding phrase "Positive Mental Attitude!" a mantra that Bad Brains championed throughout their career. Fairey's work is a visual echo of this ethos, presenting the band members with a backdrop of rasta colors, which not only allude to their music's roots but also serve as a nod to a broader cultural movement. Fairey, known for his influence on street pop art through works like the iconic "OBEY" campaign and the Obama "HOPE" poster, continues his exploration of music's intersection with visual art in this print. The piece is saturated with the motifs of Fairey's "OBEY Propaganda" — the star, the bold lettering, and the stylized imagery. These elements merge, not promote a band, and celebrate an entire cultural movement, reflecting the potency of street pop art in capturing and promoting subcultural movements. The "Bad Brains Punk Showcase Rasta AP" print symbolizes Fairey's engagement with the punk scene and his ability to encapsulate its raw, unfiltered voice within his work. It's a testament to the enduring dialogue between music and visual art, which Fairey has continually fostered through his prints, murals, and street art. This piece doesn't just hang on a wall; it screams with the voice of a movement, echoing from the underground clubs to the sun-soaked streets where street art and graffiti have long found their home.
