Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “The Hole”
Summary
The Hole" is a vivid yellow-ground Cleon Peterson composition rendered in his signature flat black silhouettes, depicting a chaotic field of nude figures fighting, clubbing, falling and crawling amid scattered weapons, bottles and debris. The print exemplifies Peterson's central preoccupation: the brutal collapse of social order into a free-for-all of violence where everyone is both aggressor and victim.
Why It Matters
This work distills Peterson's entire thematic project into a single dense scene. Stripping color down to acid yellow and black, he removes individual identity from his figures so the violence reads as universal and systemic rather than personal. The all-over composition of bodies, raised clubs, broken bottles and crawling forms recalls both the friezes of classical Greek vase painting and the moralizing crowd scenes of Hogarth, while the graphic flatness ties it directly to street-art lineage. "The Hole" is a strong early statement of the visual language Peterson would carry through his End of Empire and later bodies of work, making it a meaningful marker of his developing style.
Collector Perspective
An early Peterson offset print from 2010 in a small edition of 36, which is tight for an editioned work of this period and limits availability. As an early-career, low-edition piece it sits among the more sought-after of Peterson's affordable works on paper, though offset printing places it below his screen prints in production prestige. Collectors should confirm signature and numbering before purchase, as condition and provenance materially affect value at this edition size. The high-contrast yellow palette gives it strong wall presence, which supports steady collector interest.
Historical Context
Produced in 2010, this print dates to Peterson's formative period as he was establishing the stark figurative vocabulary of violence and power that would define his reputation over the following decade. The era saw him building a following through small print editions and gallery shows before the larger institutional projects and high-profile Shepard Fairey collaborations that broadened his audience. Works from this moment document the artist sharpening the flat, frieze-like, high-contrast approach drawn from Greek vase painting and street art.
FAQ
What does The Hole depict?
A dense, all-over scene of nude black-silhouetted figures fighting, clubbing one another, falling and crawling across a bright yellow ground, surrounded by scattered weapons, bottles and debris. It is Cleon Peterson's vision of social order collapsing into universal violence.
How large is the edition?
The edition is limited to 36, a small run that makes the print relatively scarce.
What medium is it?
It is an offset print, produced in 2010.
Is the print signed and numbered?
Editioned Peterson prints of this type are typically signed and numbered by the artist; buyers should confirm the specific signature and number on the sheet they are acquiring.
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 in a flat black, white, red and gold palette. He draws on classical 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.