Artwork Description
Florence Aubenas Silkscreen Print by Shepard Fairey- OBEY x Blek le Rat Hand-Pulled on Fine Art Paper Limited Edition Pop Street Art Artwork.
2008 Signed by Shepard Fairey & Blek le Rat, Numbered Limited Edition of 100 Artwork Size 18x24 Silkscreen Print
Shepard Fairey x Blek le Rat Florence Aubenas Silkscreen Print 2008
The 2008 Florence Aubenas silkscreen print represents a rare collaboration between American street artist Shepard Fairey, known as OBEY, and French stencil pioneer Blek le Rat. Measuring 18 x 24 inches, this hand-pulled silkscreen was produced in a signed and numbered limited edition of only 100. Each print bears the signatures of both artists, cementing its importance as a cross-generational dialogue within Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork. The subject, French journalist Florence Aubenas, was abducted and held hostage in Iraq in 2005, making the work a powerful symbol of resilience and the role of art in amplifying human rights issues.
Imagery and Symbolism
The print merges Shepard Fairey’s graphic, politically charged style with Blek le Rat’s classic stencil approach. Set against the backdrop of Place Saint-Michel in Paris, the work integrates photography and stencil to create a layered street-inspired composition. Aubenas is portrayed standing calmly, her figure rendered in stark black stencil against the stone wall, evoking Blek le Rat’s street interventions. This contrasts with the detailed urban surroundings captured in Fairey’s silkscreen process, creating a tension between the permanence of historical architecture and the urgency of contemporary political struggle. The placement of the figure beneath the street sign grounds the work firmly in Paris, while also symbolizing the global reach of her story.
Collaboration Between Icons
Blek le Rat, born Xavier Prou in France in 1951, is regarded as one of the founders of stencil graffiti, influencing generations of street artists worldwide, including Banksy. Shepard Fairey, born in Charleston, South Carolina in 1970, rose to prominence through his OBEY campaign and politically charged works such as the Hope poster of Barack Obama. Their collaboration on Florence Aubenas brought together two distinct but complementary approaches: Blek’s commitment to the power of direct stencil imagery in public space and Fairey’s graphic design-driven activism. The result is a work that resonates both as a political statement and as a landmark in the history of street art.
Political Resonance and Artistic Legacy
This silkscreen print underscores how art can become a tool of awareness and advocacy. By immortalizing Florence Aubenas in their visual language, Fairey and Blek le Rat highlight the risks faced by journalists working in conflict zones and the importance of freedom of expression. With its limited edition size, dual signatures, and thematic depth, the Florence Aubenas print is considered a significant collector’s piece, not only for fans of Shepard Fairey and Blek le Rat but also for those who recognize the importance of socially engaged art. It remains a striking example of how Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork can transcend aesthetics to confront urgent political realities.
