Fine wine and street art may not be a typical combination, but Kenwood’s 30th Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon masterfully brings them together on the wine’s commemorative label, featuring work by famed artist Shepard Fairey.
After three decades of showcasing a different piece of art every year from renowned artists like Pablo Picasso, Tamara de Lempicka and Vincent van Gogh, the Kenwood Artist Series’ 2004 vintage is released in a year of political change and fervor with Fairey’s “Peace Woman,” specially commissioned by Kenwood for this anniversary edition.
Although a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon seems like an unlikely canvas for Fairey’s bold and edgy works of art, the 2004 Artist Series succeeds in capturing the quiet power frequently expressed in his paintings and projects.
Considering himself a populist, Shepard Fairey — sometimes referred to as the “Andy Warhol of today’s generation” — is known for his works which range from absurdist propaganda to clandestine street art and commercial projects.
Fairey’s signature portrait of Andre the Giant is recognized in the fully-fledged OBEY campaign as a symbol which questions the slogans and images facing society on a daily basis. The welL-known “Hope” posters with the iconic Obama illustration strewn on walls across America indicate the prevalence that Fairey has created with his poignant images. His work combines a formidable palette of international, historical and artistic references exemplified in his bold, graphic imagery, which inspires critical thinking among its viewers and sometimes sells for $100,000 or more per piece.
To have Fairey’s work represented on the finest bottles of Kenwood’s portfolio of wines brings a fresh relevance and levity to the brand, which delivers consistent Sonoma County quality, year after year.
Equally impactful to the Artist Series is the winemaker, who selected the finest lots of Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon from Kenwood’s considerable vineyard resources to produce the outstanding 2004 vintage.
Each vintage of the Kenwood Artist Series has become a coveted collectible, illustrated clearly by the Robb Report sale of the series’ 25-year vertical for $100,000.
