Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “River Of Blood (2023) (Gold)”
Summary
A stark Cleon Peterson screen print depicting three nude female figures rendered in flat white, arranged in statuesque, classical poses — one standing with arms raised over the head, one seated, one reclining — against a pitch-black ground threaded with a gold marbled "river" pattern. The gold-variant colorway swaps Peterson's usual blood-red for metallic gold, recasting his recurring river-of-bodies motif into something colder, more funereal and mythic.
Why It Matters
River Of Blood distills Peterson's central preoccupations — mortality, the body, and the spectacle of human suffering — into a quieter, almost ritualistic register. The three figures read like figures on a Greek vase or caryatids on a funerary monument, drawing directly on the classical antiquity sources Peterson mines throughout his work, while the gold river beneath them turns flowing blood into something processional and timeless. It is one of his more restrained, composition-forward images, where the violence is implied through context and palette rather than shown through clubbing or fighting, making it a sophisticated entry point into his vocabulary of power and death.
Collector Perspective
A screen print in a tight edition of 24, the gold colorway of a multi-variant release, typically hand-signed and numbered by Peterson in pencil in the lower margin. The very small run places it among the scarcer Peterson editions — well below his more common 100–200 print runs — which supports stronger pricing and quicker resale when examples surface. As a gold variant it carries the visual appeal of a metallic ink that photographs and frames well, and it sits comfortably in a collection alongside his End of Empire and river-themed works. Condition and the integrity of the metallic ink are the main things to check; gold inks can scuff. No hype: this is a niche, low-supply piece whose value rests on the small edition and Peterson's steady following rather than on broad market depth.
Historical Context
Produced in 2023, this print belongs to the mature phase of Peterson's practice, in which he increasingly folds classical Greek and funerary imagery into his black-white-and-accent palette to address power, mortality and the brutality beneath civilization. The river-of-blood motif — bodies carried along a current — recurs across his output and connects to the classical underworld imagery (rivers of the dead) that informs much of his antiquity-driven work. Issued as part of a small color-variant edition, the gold version stands as the most austere and ceremonial reading of the subject.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
Three nude female figures rendered in flat white, posed in classical statuesque positions — standing with arms raised, seated, and reclining — against a black field threaded with a gold marbled river pattern. It evokes figures on a Greek vase or a funerary monument and reworks Peterson's recurring river-of-bodies/river-of-blood motif.
What is the edition size?
The edition is 24. This is the gold colorway variant.
Is it signed and numbered?
Peterson's prints in editions like this are typically hand-signed and numbered in pencil in the lower margin. Verify the pencil signature and number on the specific example.
What is the medium?
It is a hand-pulled screen print (silkscreen), using flat white and metallic gold inks on a black ground.
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 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.