Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “The Brinksman I”
Summary
A stark black-and-white melee in which a tangle of muscular, faceless figures beat, kick and bludgeon one another with clubs, bottles and improvised weapons against a blank white ground. It is a definitive example of Cleon Peterson's signature subject — the brutal free-for-all that exposes the violence beneath civilized order.
Why It Matters
The Brinksman I" distills Cleon Peterson's entire project into one image: bodies reduced to silhouettes, locked in a chaotic brawl where no figure is innocent and no order prevails. Rendered in flat black on white with no shading or background, it pushes the viewer into the violence with the directness of a Greek vase frieze or a Hogarth crowd scene. Dating to 2011, it sits in the early, formative period when Peterson was crystallizing the high-contrast mob compositions that would define his reputation and lead to his major collaborations and museum-level recognition later in the decade.
Collector Perspective
An early Peterson with an edition of just 23, making it considerably scarcer than the artist's later runs of 100-plus. Works from this 2011 period are uncommon on the secondary market, and small early editions like this carry appeal for collectors building a complete arc of his development. Expect it to be hand-signed and numbered in the lower margin (the signature is visible at lower right here). As a tightly editioned early work rather than a flagship "End of Empire" or Fairey collaboration, it occupies a strong collector niche — desirable for its scarcity and its quintessential imagery, though not the most recognized title in the catalog.
Historical Context
Created in 2011, this print comes from the period when Peterson, a Seattle-born, LA-based artist, was establishing the visual language — flat black figures, white voids, brutal mass conflict — that draws on classical Greek vase painting, Hogarth's moral satire and street-art directness. These early small-edition works predate his breakout "End of Empire" series and his widely circulated collaborations with Shepard Fairey, capturing the raw, foundational stage of his career.
FAQ
What does The Brinksman I depict?
A chaotic brawl of faceless black silhouetted figures attacking one another with clubs, bottles and fists against a plain white background — Cleon Peterson's recurring image of mob violence and the collapse of social order.
What is the edition size?
The edition is limited to just 23, making it one of Peterson's scarcer early releases.
Is it signed and numbered?
Works from this series are typically hand-signed and numbered by the artist in the lower margin; a signature is visible at the lower right of this print.
When was it made?
2011, during the early formative period of Peterson's career before his well-known End of Empire series and Shepard Fairey collaborations.
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-gold palette, drawing on Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art.
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.