Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “Follow The Leader (White)”
Summary
A flat white-on-black screen print showing six identical suited men marching in lockstep across a frieze-like band, each clutching the trappings of institutional power — briefcases, fistfuls of cash, a Bitcoin symbol, a graduation cap, and an assault rifle — beneath the headline "FOLLOW THE LEADER" and the caustic subtitle "TO THE END OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY." It is a representative example of Cleon Peterson's political satire, where his signature mob of faceless aggressors is recast as the suited establishment rather than street brawlers.
Why It Matters
The work distills Peterson's central preoccupation — the abuse of power and the herd mentality that enables it — into a single biting image of conformity. By marching the establishment in identical poses toward "the end of freedom and democracy," he indicts finance, education, militarism and digital currency as interchangeable instruments of control. The horizontal procession explicitly echoes the figural friezes of classical Greek vase painting that Peterson draws on, while the stark white-on-black palette and razor-sharp silhouettes make the message legible at a glance. It is one of his most directly text-driven and overtly political compositions.
Collector Perspective
This is the white colorway in an edition of just 12, a 2024 screen print that should be hand-signed and numbered by the artist, as is standard for Peterson's gallery editions. An edition this small sits well below his typical run sizes and near the top of his scarcity scale, which limits secondary-market supply and favors holding. As a recent, small-format political piece it occupies a niche relative to his larger flagship prints and End of Empire vases, but the tiny edition and the directly topical subject matter give it genuine collector appeal. Condition and an intact signature/numbering are the key value drivers.
Historical Context
Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) built his reputation on stark scenes of violence and social conflict rendered in a flat black/white/red/gold palette, drawing on Greek vase painting, Hogarth's moralizing satire, and street art. "Follow The Leader," released in 2024, belongs to the more explicitly political, text-and-slogan strain of his recent work, in which the anonymous mob that populates his fight scenes is reframed as the suited apparatus of the state and capital. The procession of briefcases, money, weapons and credentials reflects the anxieties of its moment around institutional power and democratic backsliding.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
Six identical suited men marching in lockstep, each carrying a symbol of institutional power — briefcases, cash, a Bitcoin symbol, a graduation cap, and an assault rifle — under the headline 'FOLLOW THE LEADER' and the subtitle 'TO THE END OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY.' It is a satire of conformity and the abuse of power.
How large is the edition?
This is the white colorway in an edition of only 12, which is very small for Peterson and makes it one of his scarcer recent releases.
Is it signed and numbered?
Peterson's gallery editions are typically hand-signed and numbered by the artist; buyers should confirm an intact signature and edition number for this example.
What is the medium?
It is a screen print (silkscreen), produced in 2024, in Peterson's signature flat high-contrast style — here white figures and text 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. He draws on classical 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.