Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “Kill Your Sons (White)”
Summary
Kill Your Sons (White) is a cast sculpture by Cleon Peterson depicting two nude, bald, featureless figures locked in mutual knife combat: a standing aggressor drives a blade downward while gripping the head of a kneeling figure, who in turn clutches his own knife. It translates Peterson's flat black-white-red painting language of intimate brutality and the abuse of power into a smooth, monochrome white three-dimensional object.
Why It Matters
The work is a rare freestanding sculpture from an artist best known for two-dimensional screen prints and paintings, making it a notable departure in his catalog. The all-white casting strips Peterson's usual high-contrast palette down to pure form, forcing the eye onto the choreography of the violence itself: the raised knife, the grasped skull, the kneeling submission. The title's invocation of fathers killing sons compresses Peterson's recurring themes of cyclical violence, generational power, and the brutality beneath civilization into a single sculptural gesture, echoing the classical Greek and mythological combat imagery that runs through his End of Empire work.
Collector Perspective
This is a limited-edition cast sculpture rather than a paper print, which sets it apart from the bulk of Peterson's market and appeals to collectors seeking dimensional objects. Edition size and medium are not confirmed here, so buyers should verify the published edition, material (resin or cast composite), signature, and numbering with the issuing publisher before purchase, and confirm it ships with any original box or certificate. As a sculptural object it sits in a thinner secondary market than his screen prints, so condition and completeness materially affect value; price it against documented sculpture comps rather than print results.
Historical Context
Made in 2015, at the height of Cleon Peterson's rise following his End of Empire body of work and a period of high-profile exhibitions and Shepard Fairey collaborations. The mid-2010s saw Peterson extend his stark imagery of power and conflict beyond paintings and prints into editioned objects and sculpture, of which this knife-combat figure group is an example. The motif of two figures fighting with blades is a direct three-dimensional restatement of the violent tableaux that define his graphic work.
FAQ
What does Kill Your Sons (White) depict?
Two nude, bald, featureless figures fighting with knives: a standing figure drives a blade downward while gripping the head of a kneeling figure, who also holds a knife. It is a sculptural restatement of Cleon Peterson's themes of intimate violence and the abuse of power.
Is this a print or a sculpture?
It is a freestanding cast sculpture on a circular base, not a paper print. The 'White' refers to the all-white finish of the casting.
What is the edition size?
The edition size is not confirmed in our records. Buyers should verify the published edition, numbering, and any certificate or box directly with the publisher.
Is it signed and numbered?
Signature and numbering are not confirmed here. Peterson editions are commonly signed and numbered, but verify the specific copy before purchase.
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. He draws on Greek vase painting, Hogarth, and street art, and is a frequent collaborator with Shepard Fairey.
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.