Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “Civil Rights (Black)”
Summary
A stark black-on-white screen print showing two uniformed, peaked-cap officers raising batons to beat a single cowering figure who has fallen to the ground, arms thrown up in a useless attempt to shield against the blows. It is one of Cleon Peterson's most direct statements on state violence and the policing of dissent, rendered in his signature flattened, silhouette-driven graphic language.
Why It Matters
The image distills Peterson's central subject — the abuse of power and the brutality beneath the institutions meant to keep order — into a single, unmistakable scene of authority assaulting the powerless. By stripping the composition to flat black figures on a blank white ground, Peterson removes any escape from the act itself: there is no setting, no context, no relief, only the asymmetry of two armed agents against one defenseless body. Released in 2015 against the backdrop of intensifying protest over policing and civil rights in America, the print reads as both a timeless allegory of oppression and a pointed contemporary commentary, channeling the moral-narrative tradition of Hogarth and the figural drama of Greek vase painting into the visual vocabulary of street art and protest graphics.
Collector Perspective
This is a small-edition Peterson screen print, hand-signed and numbered by the artist, from an edition of only 16. That is an exceptionally tight run for a Peterson print — far smaller than his typical editions of 100-150 — placing it among the harder-to-find works in his catalog. The black colorway is the most austere and on-brand version of the image, and small-edition, politically charged Petersons hold collector interest among buyers of his work and of Fairey-adjacent street/protest art. Condition, full margins, and the pencil signature/number are the value drivers; verify these before purchase.
Historical Context
Civil Rights dates to 2015, a period when Peterson's work increasingly engaged directly with American social conflict — police violence, protest, and the unequal exercise of power — themes that had also defined his End of Empire and related bodies of work. The mid-2010s saw Peterson's profile rise sharply through his recurring collaborations with Shepard Fairey and his stark black/white/red palette becoming instantly recognizable. This print's release coincided with a national reckoning over civil rights and policing, giving the title and imagery an explicitly contemporary charge alongside their classical, allegorical roots.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
Two uniformed, peaked-cap officers raising batons to beat a single cowering figure who has fallen to the ground and is shielding their head — a direct image of state authority assaulting a defenseless person.
What is the edition size?
The edition is 16, an unusually small run for a Cleon Peterson print.
Is it signed and numbered?
Yes. Like Peterson's editioned prints, it is hand-signed and numbered in pencil by the artist; a signature is visible at the lower right of this impression.
What is the medium?
Screen print, executed in Peterson's signature flat black-on-white graphic style.
Who is Cleon Peterson?
Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) is an American artist known for stark, high-contrast scenes of violence, power, and social conflict. Drawing on Greek vase painting, Hogarth, and street art, and a frequent Shepard Fairey collaborator, he uses flat black, white, red, and gold figures to expose the brutality beneath civilization.
Related Works
About the Artist
Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) is an American artist known for stark, high-contrast scenes of violence, power and social conflict, rendered in a flat, limited palette of black, white, red and gold. His chaotic compositions of fighting, clubbing and writhing figures expose the abuse of power and the brutality beneath civilization’s surface, drawing on classical Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art. A frequent collaborator with Shepard Fairey, he shows internationally; his prints, sculptures and editions are widely collected in the urban-contemporary market.
Collecting Cleon Peterson at Gauntlet Gallery
Where can I buy authentic Cleon Peterson prints?
Gauntlet Gallery offers an extensive, authenticated inventory of Cleon Peterson 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 Cleon Peterson prints?
Yes. New drops are released regularly across Cleon Peterson and other leading artists; see gauntlet.gallery for the latest inventory.