Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “Monument To Power, Oppression (First Edition)”
Summary
A stark equestrian monument rendered in Cleon Peterson's signature flat palette: a white-silhouetted authority figure in cap and uniform sits astride a rearing horse atop a classical pedestal, raising a baton or club overhead to strike, set against a churning red-and-black ground. "Monument To Power, Oppression" turns the traditional heroic-statue format into an indictment of state violence, distilling Peterson's career-long preoccupation with the abuse of authority into a single iconic image.
Why It Matters
The print weaponizes one of art history's most loaded forms, the equestrian monument, which has glorified rulers and conquerors from antiquity through the modern era, and inverts its meaning. By stripping the figure to a faceless silhouette mid-strike on a blank-cartouche plinth, Peterson exposes how public monuments sanctify domination and oppression rather than commemorate virtue. Made in 2019, amid widespread debate over the politics of monuments and statuary, the image reads as a direct, legible commentary on entrenched power, making it one of the more pointed and immediately readable works in Peterson's print catalog.
Collector Perspective
A small First Edition screen print with a stated edition of 24, this is a genuinely tight run and among the scarcer Peterson editions to surface. Peterson's prints are typically hand-signed and numbered in pencil in the lower margin; this impression shows a low fraction noted at lower left. The "Monument" body of work, with its clean three-color graphic and unmistakable imagery, has strong wall presence and recognizability, which supports collector demand. At 24 copies it sits well below his more common 100-plus runs, so availability is limited and the buyer pool of Peterson and street-art collectors is established but not enormous; expect a moderate market with thin supply rather than constant turnover.
Historical Context
Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) built his reputation on flat, high-contrast scenes of violence and power conflict drawn from Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art, and is a frequent Shepard Fairey collaborator. This 2019 screen print belongs to his ongoing investigation of authority and oppression, recasting the classical equestrian statue, a form long used to immortalize emperors and generals, as a symbol of brutality. It arrives in an era of intense public reckoning over what monuments represent and whom they honor.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
A uniformed authority figure on a rearing horse, raised on a classical pedestal, swinging a baton or club. It is an equestrian monument reframed as an image of state power and oppression, rendered in Peterson's flat white, red and black palette.
What is the edition size?
The edition is 24, with this being the First Edition. That is a small run by print-market standards.
Is it signed and numbered?
Peterson typically hand-signs and numbers his prints in pencil in the lower margin; this impression shows a penciled signature at lower right and an edition fraction at lower left.
What is the medium?
It is a hand-pulled screen print (silkscreen) on paper, produced in 2019.
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 influenced by Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art. He 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.