Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “Rule Of Law 2 (Red)”
Summary
A horizontal, frieze-like screen print rendered in Cleon Peterson's signature flat red, black and white palette, depicting a sprawling night-time scene of street violence: figures beat, club, drag and stomp one another along a city block of graffiti-tagged storefronts and shuttered gates, while a lone clothed bystander stands frozen at center amid the chaos. It is a quintessential Peterson tableau of civilization collapsing into brutality, where law and order have dissolved into mob savagery.
Why It Matters
The "Rule Of Law" works are among Peterson's most pointed political statements, turning the language of justice on its head: the title promises order while the image delivers anarchy and assault. The wide, friezelike composition consciously echoes ancient Greek vase painting and classical battle reliefs, recasting timeless human violence in a contemporary urban setting of tagged walls and roll-down security gates. It distills the core of Peterson's project — the brutality beneath the surface of civilization and the abuse of power — into a single panoramic image, and the red-on-black variant heightens the menace with its blood-and-shadow intensity.
Collector Perspective
This is the red colorway of Rule Of Law 2, a 2022 screen print in a tight edition of 18 — an extremely small run by Peterson's standards, where editions of 100-150 are more typical. That scarcity, combined with the panoramic format and the harder-hitting red palette, makes it one of the more sought-after Peterson prints for serious collectors of his work. Buyers should expect a hand-signed and numbered impression. As a small-edition variant it sits at the premium end of the Peterson print market rather than the accessible entry tier; condition and the low edition number are the main value drivers.
Historical Context
Rule Of Law 2 dates to 2022, well into Peterson's mature period after his international breakthrough in the mid-2010s and his prominent collaborations with Shepard Fairey. By this point his stark black/white/red iconography of mobs, beatings and power abuse had become instantly recognizable, frequently read as a mirror of contemporary political division, civil unrest and authoritarian violence. The "Rule Of Law" titling places it within his ongoing body of work that interrogates justice, order and their collapse.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
A wide, frieze-like night scene of street violence: silhouetted figures beating, clubbing, dragging and stomping one another along a block of graffiti-covered storefronts and security gates, with a single bystander standing motionless at the center. It renders mob brutality and the collapse of order in flat red, black and white.
How large is the edition?
The edition size is just 18, making this red variant an extremely small run and notably scarce within Cleon Peterson's print output.
Is it signed and numbered?
Works in editions this small are hand-signed and numbered by the artist; collectors should expect a signed and numbered impression.
What is the medium?
It is a screen print (silkscreen), produced in 2022 in Peterson's characteristic high-contrast red-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 a flat black, white, red and gold palette. He draws on Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art, and is a frequent collaborator of 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.