Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “Between Man & God (Skate Decks)”
Summary
A five-deck skateboard set whose backs combine into a single panoramic Cleon Peterson battle scene: black, white and gold figures clubbing, dragging and trampling one another across the decks, with severed heads and prostrate bodies littering the lower register. Rendered in Peterson's signature flat, friezelike style derived from Greek vase painting, it is a functional-object edition that translates his violence-and-power tableaux onto skate hardware.
Why It Matters
The piece distills Peterson's core subject — the brutality and abuse of power beneath civilization's surface — into an accessible, sculptural multiple. By spreading one continuous composition across five decks, it forces the buyer to display the set together to read the full melee, echoing the wraparound narrative logic of ancient Greek pottery he draws from. As a wall object rather than a print on paper, it sits at the intersection of his fine-art practice and the street/skate culture that shaped him and his frequent collaborator Shepard Fairey, making it a recognizable, high-impact statement of his black-white-gold visual language.
Collector Perspective
Issued in an edition of 80 sets, this is a scarce, design-driven object that appeals both to Peterson collectors and to skate-deck collectors who buy multiples to display. Five-deck sets carry more presence (and more wall space) than single decks, and complete, undamaged sets with all five aligned decks command a premium; condition matters, since decks are prone to edge wear. Position it as a mid-tier collectible within Peterson's market — more affordable than his large signed screen prints or sculptures, but with strong decorative impact. Verify completeness and any signing/numbering documentation before purchase.
Historical Context
Produced in 2018, this set comes from the period when Peterson's gallery profile and collaborative output were at their height and artist skate decks had become an established collecting category. It belongs to his run of object editions that carry the same black/white/red/gold iconography of fighting figures, mobs and fallen bodies seen across his prints, paintings and End of Empire vase works, repackaged here on functional skate hardware for a broader audience.
FAQ
What does this artwork depict?
A panoramic scene of violence and conflict spread across five skate decks: black, white and gold figures beat, club and drag one another, with severed heads and sprawled bodies in the foreground — Peterson's recurring theme of brutality and the abuse of power.
How many are in the edition?
The edition size is 80 sets.
How many decks are in a set?
Five decks, which together form one continuous composition meant to be displayed as a group.
What is the medium?
It is a limited-edition set of printed skateboard decks (artist skate decks). The exact printing/production method is not specified here.
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 Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art, and is a frequent collaborator of 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.