Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “Flowers Of Evil: The Kiss (White)”
Summary
A circular, mandala-like medallion of interlocked nude figures rendered flat in black, silver-gray and white, where bodies grapple, couple and writhe in radial symmetry so that embrace and combat become indistinguishable. It is a refined, ornamental distillation of Cleon Peterson's career-long subject — bodies in a tangle of desire and brutality — pushed into a rose-window composition rather than his usual sprawling battle scenes.
Why It Matters
The print shows Peterson compressing his signature mob-of-bodies into a single, almost decorative rosette, which makes its menace more insidious: the symmetry that organizes the figures into a beautiful pattern is the same force that locks them into endless conflict. By titling the series after Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du Mal (Flowers of Evil), Peterson aligns his flattened, vase-painting-derived figures with a literary tradition that finds beauty in vice, decay and moral collapse. The work is a strong example of how he uses classical formal devices — Greek black-figure silhouettes, radial geometry, a strictly limited palette — to deliver a thoroughly modern statement about violence and the human capacity for cruelty.
Collector Perspective
A small edition of 32, hand-signed and numbered by the artist, this is the "White" colorway of the Flowers Of Evil: The Kiss screen print released in 2021. The tiny run puts it well below Peterson's more common 100–150-piece editions, so supply on the secondary market is thin and appearances are infrequent. As a graphic, tightly composed black-and-grey medallion it has strong wall presence and pairs naturally with the contrasting variant for collectors who like to acquire colorway sets. Buyers should confirm signature, numbering and condition (the broad white margins show handling and corner wear readily); the limited supply rather than mass demand is the main driver of its market position.
Historical Context
Flowers Of Evil: The Kiss dates to 2021 and belongs to Peterson's Flowers Of Evil series, whose title nods to Charles Baudelaire's 1857 poetry collection. It sits within the artist's broader mature body of work in which he draws on ancient Greek vase painting, Hogarth's moral satires and street-art graphics to depict power, violence and social conflict in a stark black/white/red/gold vocabulary. Here the red-and-gold register is set aside for a quieter black-silver-white treatment, and the usual battlefield is reorganized into a symmetrical, ornamental composition.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
A circular, kaleidoscopic arrangement of nude figures locked together in pairs, contorted so that embracing and fighting read as the same act. The black and silver-gray bodies, with Peterson's signature blank white eyes, are organized into a symmetrical medallion or rose-window pattern.
What is the edition size?
32. This is a small edition, notably tighter than many of Cleon Peterson's releases.
Is it signed and numbered?
Yes. Works in this series are hand-signed and numbered by the artist; you should expect a pencil signature and an edition number, typically in the lower margin.
What is the medium and which colorway is this?
It is a hand-pulled screen print. This is the 'White' variant, printed in black, silver-gray and white, one of the color variations of Flowers Of Evil: The Kiss.
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. He draws on 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.