Jordan Tribute Series Art Commissioned |
|
|
|
Wednesday, 16 September 2009 |
|
The man who created a well-known campaign portrait of Barack Obama has produced a set of MIcheal Jordan art --some autographed by the new Basketball Hall of Famer.
 Artist Shepard Fairey, creator of the Obama "Hope" portrait, has produced a three-part series in celebration of Michael Jordan’s induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame last week.
The series highlights key accomplishments from Jordan’s basketball career with pieces commemorating three memorable segments: his NCAA championship with the North Carolina Tar Heels in 1982; his six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s; and his just completed Basketball Hall of Fame induction on September 11 with a portrait of Jordan produced in Fairey’s well-known iconic style.
 “As long time fans of Shepard’s art and having worked with him prior to the popularity and notoriety of his Obama ‘Hope’ artwork, we are very excited to offer collectors of sports memorabilia an art series that will bring to life Jordan’s accomplishments and further cement his legacy,“ said Chuck Donato, business manager of UDA, the Upper Deck Company’s memorabilia division. “Jordan is the sporting world’s ultimate icon and there isn’t a more relevant or iconic artist currently than Shepard, so this is an epic pairing of athlete and artist. We couldn’t be more thrilled.”
Complete sets of the three-part series will go on sale starting Thursday, Sept. 17, with the initial offering consisting of just the high-end, 26” wide x 36” high silk-screened master prints signed by both Jordan and Fairey (limited to 50 versions each) for $4,499.99 collectively. Those who buy the three-part master print series, will receive the same edition number in the limited-to-50 series for each print (UNC, Bulls and the HOF induction). Additionally, on Sept 17, the three-part sets signed by Fairey-only, which also measure 26” wide x 36” high and are limited to 123 apiece, go on sale for $1,349.99 collectively.
On Tuesday, Sept 22, individual versions of the dual-signed master prints will go on sale for $1,499.99 each, with the Fairey-only signed versions also being made available for $499.99. Lastly, on Tuesday, Sept. 29, an 18” wide x 24” high Fairey-signed print that’s limited to 523 will be made available. Complete sets of the three single-signed, smaller versions will retail for $215.99, with the individual pieces priced at $79.99 per.
 "Everything about Michael Jordan is iconic, from his slam dunks to his signature shoes to his tongue wagging to his number, so he makes a great subject for portraiture because everything about him is laced with cultural significance,” said Fairey. “You can tell from the look in his eyes, even back when he was at the University of North Carolina, that he was obsessed with greatness, but he also managed to do everything with a sense of flair. I think it's that combination of intensity and style, and of course his singular talent, that make him the embodiment of a legend."
UDA has put the artwork for sale through The Upper Deck Store. |
Read 4,000+ More Stories 
