Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “The Crawler (Skate Decks)”
Summary
A three-deck skateboard triptych whose decks align to form one continuous brawl: a solid-black figure swings a club overhead, two bodies grapple at center, and gold-toned figures writhe and strike on the right, one hoisting a heavy circular object above its head. Rendered in Peterson's flat black-white-gold palette and Greek-vase silhouette style, it transplants his signature scenes of bodies locked in violence onto functional skate objects.
Why It Matters
The piece distills the core of Cleon Peterson's work — the brutality and abuse of power beneath the surface of civilization — into a tactile, three-part object. By echoing the figure-on-figure combat of ancient Greek black-figure pottery and Hogarth's moral satire while using the visual language of street and skate culture, the decks bridge high-art antiquity and contemporary subculture. Because the triptych only resolves into a single composition when all three decks are displayed together, it works both as a collectible object and a wall-mounted work, offering Peterson's violent iconography at a more attainable entry point than his paintings.
Collector Perspective
Issued in 2018 in an edition of 80 sets, this is a genuinely limited skate-deck release rather than an open production run. Skate-deck triptychs by Peterson trade as design-object collectibles and are acquired as complete three-deck sets — splitting them undermines both the image and the value. With only 80 sets produced, supply is thin, though deck editions generally sit a tier below his signed prints and paintings in market depth. Buyers should confirm the set is complete, unridden, and matched (same numbered set), and verify any signature/numbering, as that materially affects desirability and resale.
Historical Context
Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) rose to prominence in the 2010s with stark, high-contrast scenes of power, violence and social conflict drawn from classical Greek vase painting, Hogarth, and street art. This 2018 triptych belongs to the wave of skate-deck editions he and his peers produced during that decade, when artist-designed decks became a recognized format for putting fine-art imagery onto functional objects. Its clubbing-and-grappling composition is consistent with the brawling, mob-and-power imagery running through his End of Empire-era output.
FAQ
What does this artwork depict?
Three skate decks that align to form a single scene of figures fighting: a black figure swinging a club overhead, two figures grappling at center, and gold-toned figures struggling on the right, one lifting a heavy circular object above its head.
How large is the edition?
The edition is 80 sets, with each set comprising the three decks that complete the image.
Is it signed and numbered?
Signing and numbering are not confirmed in the records we have; buyers should verify with the seller, as it affects value. The edition is limited to 80.
What is the medium?
It is a set of three artist-designed skateboard decks (screen-printed deck graphics); the exact production spec is not documented here. The palette is Peterson's signature black, white and gold.
Who is Cleon Peterson?
Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) is an American artist known for flat, high-contrast scenes of violence, power and social conflict influenced by 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.