Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “Victory (Gold)”
Summary
Victory (Gold) depicts a black silhouetted rider charging on a galloping white horse, sword raised overhead, trampling a field of fallen, white-outlined bodies strewn across a black ground broken up by jagged gold-and-black foliage. The composition reworks the classical equestrian-conqueror monument into one of Cleon Peterson's clearest statements on the brutality of domination and the human cost of triumph.
Why It Matters
This is one of Peterson's strongest single-figure compositions, distilling his entire thesis about power into a single image: the victor is not glorified but exposed as a destroyer riding over the bodies of the defeated. By borrowing the language of the triumphal equestrian statue and Greek vase painting, then inverting its heroism, Peterson turns a monument to conquest into an indictment of it. The gold variant lends the scene a deliberate sheen of imperial wealth and grandeur, sharpening the irony between the regal palette and the carnage it depicts.
Collector Perspective
Victory (Gold) is a tight edition of only 17 screen prints from 2016, signed and numbered by the artist, making it considerably scarcer than Peterson's standard runs, which often number in the hundreds. The very small edition size places it among his more sought-after and difficult-to-source works, and the gold colorway is the desirable variant within the title. Demand for Peterson on the secondary market is steady, driven by his Shepard Fairey association and strong, recognizable imagery, though a run this small trades infrequently and pricing can be uneven simply due to limited supply.
Historical Context
Produced in 2016, during the period when Cleon Peterson's reputation was building rapidly through gallery shows and his ongoing collaborations with Shepard Fairey and Obey. The equestrian-conqueror motif sits squarely within the themes that define his mid-2010s work — abuse of power, conflict, and the violence underlying civilization — and draws directly on the classical sources, Greek vase painting and triumphal monuments, that Peterson repeatedly references. The tiny edition of 17 marks it as a special, limited release rather than one of his broader open-market prints.
FAQ
What does Victory (Gold) depict?
A black silhouetted rider on a galloping white horse, raising a sword overhead while trampling a field of fallen, white-outlined bodies against a black background scattered with gold-and-black foliage. It reworks the classical triumphal equestrian monument as a critique of conquest.
How large is the edition?
The edition is just 17 — a very small run for a Cleon Peterson screen print.
Is the print signed and numbered?
Yes, the print is hand-signed and numbered by Cleon Peterson.
What is the medium?
It is a screen print, produced in 2016. This listing is for the gold colorway variant.
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 rendered in a flat black, white, red, and gold palette. 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.