Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “Doom Alone I”
Summary
A stark two-figure composition in which a black, muscular aggressor strides forward swinging a long club overhead while a gold figure arches backward in the throes of being struck down. Rendered in Cleon Peterson's signature flat black-and-gold palette against a bare white ground, "Doom Alone I" distills his central subject of one body brutalizing another into a single, almost heraldic act of violence.
Why It Matters
The print is a concentrated example of Peterson's lifelong theme: the predator-and-victim dynamic that he uses to expose the brutality underlying civilization and the abuse of power. Stripping the scene to two anonymous nudes, a weapon, and their cast shadows, he borrows the silhouette language of Greek vase painting and the moral allegory of Hogarth, then flattens it into something graphic and immediate. The metallic gold against black and white gives the violence a cold, ceremonial sheen, turning a brutal beating into an emblem of doom rather than a specific event.
Collector Perspective
A 2017 screen print in a tight edition of 24, hand-signed and numbered by the artist. The very small edition size puts it well below Peterson's larger open-palette runs and his common collaborative releases, which makes it scarcer and more sought after by collectors building a focused Peterson holding. As one half of a paired "Doom Alone I / II" type release with a strong, legible two-figure composition and the desirable gold colorway, it sits in the upper-middle of his market: not a marquee large-format piece, but a clean, recognizable, low-edition work that trades steadily.
Historical Context
Made in 2017, during the period when Peterson's reputation was cemented by high-profile mural and print output and frequent collaboration with Shepard Fairey. The work belongs to his ongoing investigation of violence, power, and social conflict that runs through series such as End of Empire, drawing equally on classical antiquity and contemporary street art. The reduced black/gold/white palette and the single-combat motif are hallmarks of his mid-2010s editions.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
A black aggressor figure striding forward and swinging a long club overhead while a gold figure recoils and arches backward, struck down. It is a distilled image of Peterson's recurring predator-and-victim violence.
What is the edition size?
The edition is limited to 24.
Is it signed and numbered?
Yes. These are hand-signed and numbered by Cleon Peterson.
What medium is it?
A screen print, executed in Peterson's flat black, metallic gold, and white palette on a bare white ground.
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 frequently collaborates 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.