Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “Beware Of False Prophets (Red)”
Summary
A stark black-on-red screen print showing a faceless suited figure standing astride the U.S. Capitol with arms outstretched in a crucifixion-like pose, holding a Bible in one hand and a stack of cash in the other, beneath the words BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS (AND FALSE PROFITS). The image distills Cleon Peterson's recurring attack on the abuse of power into a single satirical icon of religion, money and political authority.
Why It Matters
The print is one of Peterson's most legible political statements, trading his usual writhing combat scenes for a single monumental figure whose Christ-like silhouette becomes the body of a corrupt establishment. The pun built into the title — false prophets / false profits — fuses evangelical hypocrisy with capitalist greed, while the flaming Capitol at the figure's feet signals a republic consumed by it. It is a sharp, poster-ready piece of protest art that channels the agitprop lineage of Shepard Fairey alongside Peterson's own bleak moral vision.
Collector Perspective
A very small edition of only 20 makes this one of the scarcer Peterson screen prints to reach the market. Like Peterson's other hand-pulled prints it is signed and numbered in pencil (a numbered fraction and signature are visible along the lower edge). The tight edition size, overtly political subject and clean three-color graphic make it a focused collector piece rather than a widely available release; demand for Peterson's red-palette political work is steady, but the low edition means availability, not interest, is the limiting factor.
Historical Context
Produced in 2024, the print sits within Peterson's body of explicitly political work made during a charged U.S. election-year climate. It continues themes he has pursued since his rise in the 2010s — the brutality and hypocrisy beneath civilization's institutions — here narrowed to the convergence of organized religion, money and the seat of American government, rendered in his signature flat black, white and red palette.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
A faceless man in a suit stands over the U.S. Capitol with arms spread in a crucifixion pose, holding a Bible in one hand and a wad of cash in the other, under the text BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS (AND FALSE PROFITS) — a satire of religious and political corruption fueled by greed.
How large is the edition?
The edition is just 20, making it one of the scarcer Cleon Peterson screen prints.
Is it signed and numbered?
Yes. As with Peterson's hand-pulled prints, it is signed and numbered in pencil; a numbered fraction and signature appear along the bottom margin.
What is the medium?
It is a hand-pulled screen print, produced in 2024 in Peterson's flat black, white and red 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. He draws on Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art, and frequently collaborates 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.