Shepard Fairey
Just a Minor Threat
Screen print on thick cream Speckletone paper
Year: 2023
Size: 18 x 24 inches (45.72 x 60.96 cm)
Edition: 550
Signed by Shepard Fairey and Glen E. Friedman, dated and numbered by hand
Original Illustration based on a photograph by Glen E. Friedman
COA provided
*Edition number may vary from the image shown.
Shepard Fairey first encountered Minor Threat in 1985, a year into skateboarding and deep immersion in punk and hardcore culture. At a formative moment marked by growing confidence, self-expression, and an embrace of D.I.Y. ethics, Minor Threat became a catalyst—what Fairey describes as rocket fuel for his emotional and intellectual evolution. The band’s music was not only explosively energetic, but also precise and disciplined, driven by Ian MacKaye’s sharp, intelligent, and confrontational lyrics.
Beyond the music itself, Minor Threat’s decision to create Dischord Records left a lasting impression on Fairey. The label’s commitment to independence and community—releasing not only Minor Threat’s work but also records by other Washington, D.C. bands—embodied values that would profoundly influence Fairey’s own artistic path. These shared principles made the opportunity to collaborate with photographer Glen E. Friedman on a Minor Threat print especially meaningful, created in celebration of Friedman’s book Just a Minor Threat.
Drawing from Friedman’s intimate and powerful photographs of the band, the composition integrates striking imagery of each member alongside the ever-present audience that defined Minor Threat’s live performances. Friedman, whose work has documented the foundations of hardcore punk, views Minor Threat as one of the genre’s essential pillars and a source of inspiration for generations worldwide. The collaboration reflects the long-standing creative dialogue between Fairey and Friedman, who have worked together on several projects tied to Friedman’s publications. This artwork stands as a shared tribute—honoring the band’s music, ethos, and enduring cultural impact—with the full support and blessing of Minor Threat’s members.
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