Gauntlet Gallery
What is D*Face’s piece called “Sadamned”
Summary
"Sadamned" reworks a US one-dollar bill into a "D*Face Reserve Note," replacing George Washington's portrait with a slack-jawed, devil-horned caricature of Saddam Hussein and stamping the artist's "DF" monogram into the seals and corners. It is a sharp piece of D*Face's early-career currency vandalism, turning the most recognizable symbol of American power into a blunt commentary on the Iraq War and the financial machinery of conflict.
Why It Matters
Defacing money sits at the core of street art's anti-establishment lineage, and here D*Face fuses two of his recurring targets, money and mortality, into a single object. Produced in 2006 at the height of the Iraq War and three years after Saddam Hussein's capture, the print is a direct piece of political satire rather than a generic skull or romance image, making it one of the more pointed statements in his early output. The mock-currency format also nods to a broader urban-art tradition of altered banknotes while carrying D*Face's unmistakable cartoon menace.
Collector Perspective
With an edition of just 35, this is one of the scarcer D*Face screen prints to surface, well below the 100-to-300 runs common to his later editions. The overtly political subject narrows its audience compared to his crowd-pleasing D*Dog and lovers imagery, which can cut both ways: fewer competing bidders, but strong appeal to collectors of war-and-power and defaced-currency themes. For buyers it represents an early-era D*Face work with genuine scarcity; condition, signature, and numbering will drive value more than the motif's mainstream recognition.
Historical Context
The image directly references the US one-dollar bill, retitled "The United State of America" with the "D*Face Reserve Note" header and "DF" lettering where the Federal Reserve markings sit. Saddam Hussein, executed in December 2006, is rendered with devil horns and a lolling tongue, anchoring the work firmly in the politics of the mid-2000s Iraq War. It belongs to D*Face's Early Street Era, when his practice still leaned heavily on subverting found commercial and official imagery.
FAQ
What does Sadamned depict?
It depicts a parody US one-dollar bill, relabeled a 'D*Face Reserve Note,' with Saddam Hussein's horned, tongue-out caricature replacing George Washington and the artist's 'DF' monogram worked into the seals and corners.
How large is the edition?
The edition size is 35, making it one of the scarcer D*Face screen prints.
What medium is it?
It is a hand-pulled screen print, produced in 2006.
Is the print signed and numbered?
D*Face limited prints are typically hand-signed and numbered by the artist, though this should be confirmed against the specific example and its certificate or pencil markings.
Who is D*Face?
D*Face is the British street artist Dean Stockton (b. 1978, London), a pop-art provocateur known for his winged-eyed 'D*Dog,' grinning skulls and doomed comic-strip lovers, and for co-founding the StolenSpace gallery.
Related Works
About the Artist
D*Face is the working name of Dean Stockton (b. 1978, London), a leading figure in British street art. He came up pasting stickers and posters across London in the early 2000s, then built a pop-fuelled visual language that defaces comic-book romance, advertising and celebrity iconography. Recurring motifs include his winged-eyed D*Dog, grinning skulls and doomed comic-strip lovers. His practice spans screenprints, hand-painted multiples, sculpture and large-scale murals worldwide, and he co-founded the StolenSpace gallery in London. His work satirises consumerism, power and our collective obsession with fame.
Collecting D*Face at Gauntlet Gallery
Where can I buy authentic D*Face prints?
Gauntlet Gallery offers an extensive, authenticated inventory of D*Face prints and contemporary editions, with new drops added regularly. Browse the current collection at gauntlet.gallery.
How does Gauntlet Gallery ensure authenticity?
Gauntlet Gallery is built on curation, authenticity and transparency — every work is vetted and its provenance, edition details and condition are disclosed up front.
Does Gauntlet Gallery add new D*Face prints?
Yes. New drops are released regularly across D*Face and other leading artists; see gauntlet.gallery for the latest inventory.