Artwork Description
David with Machine Gun 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 David with Machine Gun AP Silkscreen Print 2008
The David with Machine Gun AP Artist Proof silkscreen print from 2008 is a rare collaborative work created by Shepard Fairey, widely known as OBEY, and stencil art pioneer Blek le Rat. Hand-pulled on fine art paper and measuring 18 x 24 inches, this Artist Proof edition is signed by both artists and marked “AP,” distinguishing it from the standard numbered release of 100. Artist Proofs carry additional significance within the art world due to their limited availability and direct association with the artists’ approval process, making this piece especially sought after by collectors of Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork.
Imagery and Symbolic Tension
This print features Michelangelo’s classical David, a symbol of Renaissance ideals of beauty, youth, and heroism, reimagined with a modern twist: he holds a machine gun. The stark juxtaposition between timeless humanist ideals and contemporary instruments of war creates a powerful critique of violence and the ways cultural icons are repurposed to reflect current anxieties. Set against a graffiti-covered urban backdrop, the figure embodies the collision between high art traditions and street-level social commentary. The work challenges viewers to consider how ideals of strength and beauty are corrupted when reframed within the context of militarization.
Collaboration Across Generations
Blek le Rat, born Xavier Prou in France in 1951, is often credited as the father of stencil graffiti, influencing countless artists with his Paris-based interventions since the 1980s. Shepard Fairey, born in 1970 in Charleston, South Carolina, rose to prominence through his OBEY campaign and politically resonant prints, later achieving international acclaim with his Hope poster of Barack Obama. Their joint creation of David with Machine Gun demonstrates how two generations of artists from different cultural backgrounds can merge their practices to create a unified message. It serves as both homage to classical art and a critique of the modern world.
Rarity and Collectible Importance
Artist Proof editions such as this one are rarer than the main run, typically reserved for the artists themselves or for key collaborators. Marked “AP” and carrying the signatures of both Fairey and Blek le Rat, this print embodies both historical and artistic value. Beyond its scarcity, the work is a striking representation of how street artists reinterpret cultural symbols to confront pressing issues like war and societal decay. The David with Machine Gun AP silkscreen stands as a prime example of the fusion of fine art history and modern protest through the visual language of Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork.
