Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “Canceled (Black)”
Summary
A flat, high-contrast screen print depicting a single yellow figure tumbling backward against a black star-filled night sky, top hat flung from its grinning head and walking cane slipping from its grip. Rendered in Cleon Peterson's signature reductive palette, "Canceled (Black)" reads as the toppling of an entrenched elite — the dandified, top-hatted establishment figure thrown off balance and falling.
Why It Matters
The work distills Peterson's career-long subject — the abuse and reversal of power — into a single, legible emblem. By isolating one falling figure of privilege (the top hat and cane are classic shorthand for the moneyed ruling class) against a void of stars, Peterson trades his usual mob-violence tableaux for a quieter, almost heraldic image of an authority figure losing its footing. The title "Canceled" ties the timeless theme of toppled power to a distinctly 2021 cultural moment, making it one of the more pointed and topical statements in his print output.
Collector Perspective
A very small edition of 16, this is among the scarcer screen prints in Peterson's catalog, where editions commonly run 50 to 200. The image is hand-signed and numbered in pencil along the lower edge (signature visible at lower right). The single-figure composition, bold negative space, and on-the-nose "Canceled" title give it strong standalone wall presence and a clear conceptual hook. With only 16 copies, supply to the secondary market is thin and infrequent; it sits as a collector's-tier piece rather than an entry-level Peterson print.
Historical Context
Made in 2021, "Canceled (Black)" comes from the period when Peterson — already established through "End of Empire" vases, mob-violence canvases, and frequent Shepard Fairey collaborations — increasingly compressed his themes of collapsing authority into single emblematic figures. The toppling top-hatted aristocrat draws on a long visual lineage of caricaturing the ruling class (Hogarth, political cartooning) while the flat black/yellow palette and starfield keep it firmly within his stark graphic idiom.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
A single yellow figure falling backward against a black, star-dotted night sky, its top hat knocked off its grinning head and its cane slipping away — a top-hatted establishment/elite figure being toppled, underscored by the title 'Canceled.'
How large is the edition?
The edition is just 16, making it one of the scarcer screen prints in Cleon Peterson's catalog.
Is it signed and numbered?
Yes. It is hand-signed and numbered in pencil along the lower edge; the artist's signature is visible at the lower right.
What is the medium?
A hand-pulled screen print, produced in 2021, in Peterson's flat high-contrast yellow-on-black 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 in flat black/white/red/gold palettes. He draws on Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art, and 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.