Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “The Dark Rider (Gold)”
Summary
The Dark Rider (Gold) depicts two rearing horses and their riders trampling and beating a fallen, unarmed figure, rendered in Cleon Peterson's signature flat black, white and gold palette. A mounted attacker swings a club overhead while a second figure on foot grapples the prone victim, staging the asymmetrical brutality of the powerful over the defenseless that runs through Peterson's entire body of work.
Why It Matters
The horse-and-rider motif is one of Peterson's most loaded images, conflating the apocalyptic horseman, the conqueror on horseback, and the equestrian monument — symbols Western power has long used to glorify domination. By stripping the scene to silhouettes and replacing the artist's usual blood-red with gold, Peterson turns the language of triumph and gilded heroism against itself: the "dark rider" is not a hero but an executioner. The composition's direct lineage to Greek black-figure vase painting and to the violence-as-spectacle tradition of Hogarth gives the print art-historical weight beyond its street-art surface, making it a strong representative example of the themes that define his career.
Collector Perspective
This is a screen print from 2022 in a small edition of 28, typically hand-signed and numbered by the artist — a notably tight run for a Peterson print, well below his more common 100-plus editions. The gold colorway functions as a variant of the Dark Rider image, and limited runs in his metallic/gold palettes tend to draw collector attention for their wall presence. As a desirable subject (the horseman motif) in a scarce edition, it sits at the stronger end of Peterson's print market rather than the entry tier. Verify signature, numbering and condition (gold screen-printed areas can show handling marks) against the certificate or publisher documentation before purchase.
Historical Context
Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) emerged in the 2010s with stark black-white-and-red tableaux of mob violence, power and social collapse, drawing on Greek vase painting, Hogarth, and the graphic vocabulary of street art, and collaborating frequently with Shepard Fairey. The Dark Rider (Gold), produced in 2022, belongs to his ongoing exploration of riders, conquerors and the abuse of power, with the gold palette continuing a series of metallic editions that recast his violent imagery in the gilded tones traditionally reserved for glory and the sacred.
FAQ
What does The Dark Rider (Gold) depict?
Two rearing horses with riders trample and beat a fallen, defenseless figure; one rider swings a club overhead while a second attacker grapples the prone victim — a scene of one-sided violence and domination rendered in flat black, white and gold silhouettes.
How large is the edition?
The edition size is 28, a small and scarce run for a Cleon Peterson screen print.
Is it signed and numbered?
Prints in this format are typically hand-signed and numbered by the artist; confirm the signature and number with the accompanying documentation when purchasing.
What is the medium?
It is a screen print (silkscreen), produced in 2022, in a black, white and gold colorway.
Who is Cleon Peterson?
Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) is an American artist known for high-contrast scenes of violence, power and social conflict that draw on Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art; he 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.