Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “World On Fire (Sculpture) (First Edition)”
Summary
A matte-black cast sculpture of one of Cleon Peterson's signature faceless figures kneeling on one knee, its head replaced by a melting, flame-licked globe that the figure clutches with both hands. It translates the imagery of Peterson's 2021 "World On Fire" print series into a three-dimensional object, distilling his themes of a planet consumed by violence and collapsing power into a single Atlas-like body.
Why It Matters
World On Fire" is one of Peterson's most direct apocalyptic statements, and seeing it rendered as a sculpture is significant because it pulls his normally flat, graphic, black-on-white vocabulary into physical space. The faceless figure buckling under a burning, melting Earth reads as a grim inversion of the classical Atlas myth, a recurring move for Peterson, who mines Greek antiquity and Hogarthian moral imagery to indict the brutality beneath civilization. The all-black, high-gloss-to-matte cast object is a rare format for the artist, whose market is dominated by prints, making the three-dimensional editions among the more collectible and display-driven pieces in his catalog.
Collector Perspective
Peterson's market is overwhelmingly print-driven and sits at accessible price points; recorded "World On Fire" print and poster sales cluster roughly from the low hundreds (signed/numbered 18x24 editions of 125) up to several hundred for the oversized 36x48 prints, with his earlier "Power" sculpture (edition of 150) trading around $170-$175. Sculptural editions like this one are scarcer than the prints and tend to command a premium for being three-dimensional, display-ready objects. Edition size and medium for this First Edition are unconfirmed here, so buyers should verify the cast material, signature/numbering, and run size against the certificate before paying a sculpture premium. Overall this is a recognizable, on-theme Peterson object rather than a blue-chip rarity.
Historical Context
World On Fire" dates to 2021 and belongs to a cluster of Peterson works built around a planet in crisis, released across multiple formats including signed white-version posters (edition of 125) and large 36x48 prints. The figure-as-statue format extends a line Peterson began earlier with cast objects such as his 2012 "Power" sculpture. The work lands squarely in the artist's ongoing project, ongoing since his rise in the 2010s, of using stark, mythic figures to dramatize power, conflict and societal collapse.
FAQ
What does this sculpture depict?
A faceless figure kneeling on one knee whose head is a melting, burning globe of the Earth, which it grips with both hands like an Atlas straining under a world on fire.
Is it signed and numbered?
It is described as a First Edition, but the signature and numbering details are not confirmed in the information provided. Buyers should verify against the certificate of authenticity.
What is the edition size?
The edition size is unknown here. For reference, Peterson's related 'World On Fire' posters were editions of 125 and his earlier 'Power' sculpture was an edition of 150.
What is it made of?
The medium is unconfirmed, but it presents as a solid cast sculpture finished in matte black, consistent with Peterson's other cast figure editions.
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, drawing on Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art, and 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.