Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “The Occupation”
Summary
A four-panel screen print in Cleon Peterson's signature black, white and red palette depicting a sprawling scene of mob violence: uniformed authority figures and civilians club, beat, drag and slaughter one another while bloodied bodies lie strewn across the ground in pools of red. It is an early, foundational work that lays out the brutal social-conflict vocabulary, power abuse, and flat graphic violence Peterson would develop across his career.
Why It Matters
The Occupation" is significant as an early (2008) statement of Cleon Peterson's enduring subject: the breakdown of civilization into raw violence and the abuse of power by those in authority. The multi-panel format lets the eye move from one act of brutality to the next, building a relentless, frieze-like accumulation of conflict that recalls classical Greek vase battle scenes filtered through street-art directness. Works from this period establish the visual grammar — flattened figures, restricted black/white/red palette, anonymous aggressors and victims — that defines his mature output and his later collaborations with Shepard Fairey.
Collector Perspective
An early Peterson screen print with an edition of just 45, this is genuinely scarce relative to his later, larger runs, and early-career examples carry added interest for collectors tracking the origins of his style. The multi-panel composition and dense, narrative violence make it a more ambitious and visually demanding piece than a single-image print. As with most Peterson editions, expect it to be signed and numbered; condition and provenance matter given the heavy black ink fields, which can show handling. A solid, less common piece for a focused Peterson collection rather than an entry-level decorative buy.
Historical Context
Produced in 2008, this print dates to Cleon Peterson's emergence in the Los Angeles street-art and gallery scene, well before the wider recognition that came with his "End of Empire" and Shepard Fairey collaborations of the 2010s. The era's work is rooted in his interest in the brutality beneath civilized society, drawing on classical battle imagery, Hogarth's moralizing crowds and the flat graphic language of skate and street culture. The small edition size of 45 is consistent with the more limited gallery editions of this earlier period.
FAQ
What does The Occupation depict?
Four square panels of mob violence rendered in black, white and red: uniformed authority figures and civilians club, beat, drag and kill one another while bloodied bodies lie across the ground. It reads as a panorama of social order collapsing into brutality and the abuse of power.
What is the edition size?
The edition is 45, making it one of Peterson's scarcer early prints.
Is the print signed and numbered?
Peterson's limited editions are typically hand-signed and numbered by the artist. Buyers should confirm the specific signature and numbering with the seller for any individual example.
What medium and year is this?
It is a screen print from 2008, an early example of Peterson's now-recognizable flat, high-contrast graphic style.
Who is Cleon Peterson?
Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) is an American artist known for stark black, white and red scenes of violence, power and social conflict. He draws on Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art, and is a frequent Shepard Fairey collaborator.
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.