Gauntlet Gallery
What is D*Face’s piece called “Undead”
Summary
Undead depicts a stark monochrome skull crowned with a Native American–style feathered headband and framed by long, dark flowing hair, set inside a circular black tondo with a chevron-patterned border and the words "D*FACE" above and "UNDEAD" below. Rendered in silver-gray on black with a biker-patch / band-logo aesthetic, it fuses D*Face's recurring skull motif with appropriated subcultural insignia rather than his usual comic-romance source material.
Why It Matters
The print distills two of D*Face's central preoccupations — mortality and the reuse of borrowed visual languages — into a single emblematic device. By staging the skull as a quasi-tribal patch, complete with feathers, flowing hair and a heraldic circular frame, he co-opts the iconography of outlaw and rock-and-roll identity to make a memento mori that doubles as branded merchandise. It is a tight, design-forward example of how D*Face collapses the line between street provocation, pop appropriation and the logo culture he critiques.
Collector Perspective
At an edition of just 14, Undead sits among D*Face's genuinely tight runs, well below the 75–150 sizes typical of his mainstream screen prints, which places it in specialist territory rather than the broad collector market. The skull is one of his most sought-after recurring motifs, and the small edition limits supply, but the monochrome palette and patch-style format make it more niche than his color-saturated comic-lover pieces, so demand is concentrated among committed D*Face collectors. Expect infrequent secondary-market appearances and pricing driven as much by the low edition number as by the imagery; condition and an intact signature/number will matter disproportionately at this scarcity level.
Historical Context
Produced in 2014, during what is characterized here as D*Face's Pop Provocation Era, Undead draws on the visual grammar of biker patches, rock-band crests and Americana tribal motifs — feathers, headband, circular insignia — recast through his skull iconography. The work reflects the period's interest in branding and subcultural emblems, applying the appropriationist tactics he is known for not to a romance-comic panel but to the badge-and-logo culture of identity and belonging.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
A monochrome skull wearing a Native American–style feathered headband with long flowing hair, set inside a circular black medallion with a chevron border, captioned 'D*FACE' at top and 'UNDEAD' at bottom — a patch- or band-logo–style memento mori.
How large is the edition?
The edition size is 14, making it one of D*Face's smaller, more specialist runs.
What medium is it?
It is a screen print (silkscreen), produced in 2014.
Is it 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 before purchase.
Who is D*Face?
D*Face is Dean Stockton (b. 1978, London), a British street and pop artist known for defacing comic-book romance, advertising and celebrity imagery, recurring skull and winged-eye 'D*Dog' motifs, 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.