Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “Vote (I)”
Summary
A single hulking riot officer in full body armor — chest plate reading "POLICE" — plants his feet wide and grips a long baton across his body, standing over a field of flames against a blood-red ground, beneath the stark sans-serif word "VOTE." It is one of Cleon Peterson's most pointed political statements, distilling his ongoing study of state power and the brutality beneath civic order into a single intimidating figure of authority looming over the act of democratic participation.
Why It Matters
Released in 2020, an American presidential election year defined by mass protest and confrontations between militarized police and demonstrators, "Vote (I)" is Peterson at his most direct and topical. Where much of his work stages anonymous mobs in mythic, timeless combat, here he collapses that allegory into a recognizable contemporary symbol: the riot cop as the armored face of the state. The juxtaposition of the word "VOTE" with a figure of armed suppression turns the print into an argument — about who holds power, what enforces it, and the fragility of democratic choice — making it a key example of how Peterson weaponizes his graphic, poster-like language for explicit political commentary.
Collector Perspective
A small edition of just 24, screen printed in Peterson's signature black, white and red palette. As with his standard practice, prints from these runs are hand-signed and numbered by the artist. The tiny edition size puts it well below his more common 100–150 piece releases, making "Vote (I)" considerably harder to source on the secondary market than his mainstream prints; it appeals most to collectors focused on his overtly political, riot-police imagery rather than the mythological End of Empire material. Condition and full margins matter given the heavy solid-ink coverage typical of his work.
Historical Context
Vote (I)" dates to 2020 and sits within the wave of election-year and protest-themed work that artists in the street-art and political-poster tradition produced that cycle. Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle), a frequent Shepard Fairey collaborator, had by this point built a recognizable visual language drawn from Greek vase painting, Hogarth and graffiti to depict power, violence and social conflict. This print channels that vocabulary toward a specific civic moment, using the militarized police officer as a stand-in for coercive authority confronting the voter.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
A heavily armored riot police officer in helmet and body armor, the word POLICE across his chest, standing with legs braced and a long baton held across his body. He looms over a band of red flames on a deep red ground, with the word VOTE printed in black across the top.
What is the edition size?
The edition is 24 — a notably small run for Cleon Peterson and much smaller than his more typical 100–150 piece editions.
Is it signed and numbered?
Yes. Consistent with Peterson's standard practice, prints from this edition are hand-signed and numbered by the artist.
What is the medium?
It is a screen print (silkscreen), executed 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 rendered in a flat black/white/red palette. He draws on classical Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art, and is a frequent collaborator with 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.