Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “The Possessed (Triptych)”
Summary
A horizontal three-panel screen print of writhing, interlocking nude bodies rendered in Cleon Peterson's flat gold-and-black palette, the tangled mass of limbs reading at once as orgy, brawl and collective frenzy. "The Possessed" extends Peterson's recurring obsession with the mob and the dissolution of the individual into a faceless, churning crowd.
Why It Matters
The triptych format and the seamless field of bodies push Peterson's central theme — humanity surrendering reason to mob violence and base appetite — to architectural scale. Stripping his usual black/white/red down to a stark gold-on-black scheme, he evokes the figural friezes of Greek vase painting and classical relief while emptying them of heroism, leaving only a writhing knot of anonymous flesh. As a large multi-panel work it functions as a centerpiece edition rather than a single-image print, making it one of the more ambitious objects in his print output.
Collector Perspective
Issued in 2024 as a screen print in an edition of only 18, this is among the scarcer Peterson editions to reach the market. As a three-panel work sold and displayed as a set, it commands a premium over his standard single-sheet prints and appeals to collectors building a serious Peterson holding or seeking a statement wall piece. Expect it to be hand-signed and numbered in the small edition. Low edition size plus large scale means limited supply and infrequent secondary-market appearances; condition of all three panels and intact provenance as a complete set are the key value drivers.
Historical Context
Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) emerged from skate and street-art culture to become one of the defining contemporary chroniclers of power and brutality, frequently collaborating with Shepard Fairey. His mature work draws openly on Greek vase painting, Hogarth and Goya to stage scenes of fighting, mobs and the abuse of power. "The Possessed (Triptych)," from 2024, sits within his ongoing exploration of crowds and the loss of the self to collective frenzy, its gold-on-black palette deliberately recalling antique friezes.
FAQ
What does The Possessed (Triptych) depict?
Three panels of densely interlocked nude figures in gold against black, their tangled limbs reading simultaneously as an orgy, a brawl and a possessed crowd — Peterson's recurring image of the individual dissolving into the mob.
How large is the edition?
The edition is just 18, making it one of the scarcer Cleon Peterson print editions on the market.
Is it signed and numbered?
Works in editions this small are typically hand-signed and numbered by the artist; buyers should confirm the signature and the edition number on the specific set.
What is the medium and format?
It is a screen print produced as a triptych — three separate panels designed to be displayed together as one continuous horizontal composition.
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 drawn from 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.