ToyCyte: Toy Culture Collected

Shepard Fairey has dropped three new lithographs/art prints this week and man are they killer, literally. Left to right: Fictional serial-killer Dexter Morgan, future president Barack Obama and accused rapist/basketball icon Kobe Bryant. It makes me happy to know that even though he hobnobs with politicians, Shepard can still hang with Billy Idol, draw the former Six Feet Under star for his Showtime show and respond to a request for a portrait from Kobe. Diversity is good for America.

• The Dexter print will be showcased at SDCC 08, and a limited amount of signed and numbered editions will be available through Showtime.
• At the request of Russell Simmons, Shepard donated a new Obama Hope piece to the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation. The 4′x6′ mixed media stencil collage on paper is being auctioned for the Art For Life Charity event. The bidding is currently at $11,000 and the piece has an estimated value of $30,000. You can bid on it through the Art For Life Auction here.
• There are two editions of the Kobe Bryant litho: “MVP” and “KOBE”.  Each are limited editions with a portion signed by both Kobe and Shepard (all have been signed by Shepard). The 20” wide x 30” high prints incorporate the Lakers team colors on French archival paper. You can check out and buy the prints at the Upper Deck Store. These aren’t cheap, but you’ve got a range of pricing options–from unframed Shepard-signed editions for $349.99 to dual-autographed framed lithos for $1,299.99.