Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “Monument To Power, Law (First Edition)”
Summary
A stark frontal portrait of Lady Justice rendered as a stone monument: blindfolded, holding aloft a set of scales weighed down by a severed head in one pan while gripping a downward sword in the other, the white statue set against a churning field of black and blood-red. The print belongs to Cleon Peterson's ongoing interrogation of institutional power, recasting a civic symbol of impartial law as a complicit, executioner-like figure.
Why It Matters
Monument To Power, Law takes one of the most universally recognized emblems of justice and corrupts it from within. By placing a severed head on the scales and pointing the sword toward the ground, Peterson collapses the distance between law and violence, suggesting that the apparatus of order is itself an instrument of domination. The classical statuary form and pedestal directly invoke Peterson's debt to Greco-Roman sculpture and civic monuments, while the flat black/white/red palette and the literal "monument" framing make this one of his most pointed single-figure statements on how authority sanctifies brutality. It is a clean, iconic image that distills his larger themes of power and abuse into one instantly legible figure.
Collector Perspective
A 2019 screen print in a small First Edition run of 24, hand-signed and numbered by the artist. The tiny edition size puts it well above Peterson's larger open or 100+ runs in scarcity, and monument/statue compositions are among his more sought-after single-figure works for their immediate iconography. As a first edition of a recognizable image, it carries collector appeal beyond his more common multi-figure mob prints, though as a standalone (non-collaboration) piece it sits in the core Cleon Peterson market rather than the premium Fairey-collaboration tier.
Historical Context
Produced in 2019, this print comes from the mature phase of Peterson's career after his breakout End of Empire and large-scale mural work, when he increasingly distilled his social-conflict vocabulary into singular monumental figures. The Lady Justice subject draws on his recurring engagement with classical sculpture and civic iconography, reworking a Western symbol of law and order into a critique of state-sanctioned violence — a theme that runs throughout his 2010s output and resonated strongly in the political climate of the period.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
A blindfolded Lady Justice statue on a stone pedestal, holding scales weighed down by a severed head and gripping a downward-pointing sword, set against a black-and-red background — recasting the symbol of impartial law as a figure complicit in violence.
How large is the edition?
This is the First Edition, limited to just 24 prints, making it a scarce small-run work.
Is it signed and numbered?
Yes. Like Peterson's editioned screen prints, it is hand-signed and numbered by the artist.
What is the medium?
A hand-pulled screen print, produced in 2019, in Peterson's signature flat black, white, and red palette.
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. Drawing on Greek vase painting, Hogarth, and street art, he is also 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.