I. Introduction – The Icon as Activist

In Fairey's world, the portrait is a weapon. These are not decorative likenesses. They are calls to attention, calls to arms, and calls to remember. Fairey's portraits of dissent are deliberately loud. They deify activists who are often sidelined. They transform faces into banners, and names into movements.

This segment catalogs the first three central works: Angela Davis, Ai Weiwei, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Each print is unpacked for historical context, visual messaging, collector value, and availability.

II. Portrait 1: Angela Davis – Power & Equality (2008)

18x24" screenprint | Edition of 450 | Signed & Numbered

Angela Davis stares forward, defiant and unyielding, against a backdrop of radiating floral geometry. Fairey released this print as a rallying cry during the final year of George W. Bush's presidency—reasserting Davis's legacy as a revolutionary voice in civil rights, prison abolition, and Black feminism.

Design Analysis:

• "Power & Equality" headline recalls 1960s Black Panther posters
• Radiant gold and red hues assert dignity as strength
• Decorative mandalas echo Fairey's Peace Goddess style

Collector Movement:

• Instant sellout in 2008
• Frequently paired with Obama Progress or Chuck D as activist triptych

Available for Acquisition:

• Est. Value (2025): $1,500–$2,000
• Condition: 2 confirmed in inventory, both flat and sleeved

III. Portrait 2: Ai Weiwei (2012)

18x24" screenprint | Edition of 350 | Signed & Numbered

Released while Ai Weiwei was under house arrest in China, this portrait blends activist portraiture with political urgency. Ai is shown mid-expression, his face stoic, surrounded by Obey-style textural chaos and floral distress.

Symbolism:

• Chinese red palette echoes Maoist propaganda posters
• Sunburst and crack textures = global pressure + fragility
• "Free Ai Weiwei" messaging embedded subtly in texture

Exhibition Highlights:

• Subliminal Projects (2012) – "Artists for Artists" show
• Displayed at Hong Kong Art Basel in Ai Weiwei retrospective, 2019

Available for Acquisition:

• Est. Value (2025): $800–$1,200
• Condition: 3 flat copies available; 1 framed AP variant held

IV. Portrait 3: Ruth Bader Ginsburg – Dissent Collage (2020)

18x24" screenprint | Edition of 300 | Signed & Numbered

This piece was released shortly after RBG's passing. Fairey depicts her in grayscale, backed by torn Constitution text and bold typography reading "DISSENT." Her signature collar appears metallic in tone.

Visual Impact:

• Background fragments include key phrases from Supreme Court dissents
• Typeface echoes old law books and activist signage
• Palette limited to black/white/red to emphasize moral clarity

Collector Context:

• Sold out in under 5 minutes in 2020
• Commonly displayed alongside Fairey's We the People posters

Available for Acquisition:

• Est. Value (2025): $1,100–$1,600
• Condition: 2 pristine prints and 1 signed AP with exhibition label

V. The Portrait as Amplifier

What unites these works is not aesthetics—it's intent. Fairey is choosing to preserve public memory. These prints exist so that these faces—these voices—are never forgotten, even when headlines fade.

Each print can be displayed:

• Solo, spotlight-style over a bookshelf, desk, or classroom wall
• Grouped by cause (e.g. racial justice, gender equity, free speech)
• Integrated with Fairey's We the People or Hope works for impact context

Segment 2 will cover: Emma González, Malcolm X, and Dolores Huerta. Full valuation and installation strategy to follow.

All works are available for acquisition. Contact for bundle pricing, provenance verification, and curation support.

© 2025. Segment 1 complete. Activist portrait archive in progress.