Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “Orientations Of The Night III”
Summary
A stark two-figure tableau rendered in Cleon Peterson's signature flat palette of black, gold and white on a pale gray ground: a hulking black figure looms over and pins a kneeling gold-colored figure, gripping its head and arm in a posture of domination and assault. It is a characteristic Peterson study of brute power overwhelming the vulnerable, distilling his career-long obsession with the abuse of authority into a single tightly locked, almost sculptural composition.
Why It Matters
The print is a concentrated example of what makes Peterson's work resonate: violence stripped of narrative detail and reduced to silhouette, gesture and color so that the power dynamic reads instantly. The black aggressor and gold victim recall the figure-ground logic of ancient Greek vase painting, a lineage Peterson openly draws on, while the contemporary flatness ties it to street-art graphics. As part of a "Night" themed grouping, it sits within his recurring meditation on the darkness beneath civilized order, where domination, exhaustion and cruelty play out in shadow.
Collector Perspective
An extremely small edition of just 16, hand-signed and numbered by Cleon Peterson in pencil in the lower margin (the signature and numbering are visible at bottom). The tiny edition size puts it well below Peterson's more common 100–150 run screen prints, making it one of the harder-to-source pieces for collectors who follow his catalog. As a single-figure-conflict composition in the recognizable black/gold/white palette, it is squarely on-brand and desirable; the limited supply should support firm pricing, though the niche edition means fewer public sales to benchmark against.
Historical Context
Produced in 2025, this screen print belongs to the mature phase of Peterson's print practice, in which the Seattle-born artist (b. 1973) continued to mine the themes of power, violence and social conflict that established him over the prior decade. The work's "Orientations Of The Night" framing aligns with his ongoing night-and-shadow series, extending the classical-meets-street visual language — flat figures, restricted palette, frieze-like staging — that links his output to Greek vase painting and to his collaborations within the Shepard Fairey orbit.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
A large black figure looming over and pinning down a kneeling gold-colored figure, gripping its head and arm — a scene of physical domination and assault that typifies Peterson's focus on the abuse of power.
How large is the edition?
Just 16 — a very small, scarce edition for a Cleon Peterson screen print.
Is it signed and numbered?
Yes. It is hand-signed by Cleon Peterson and numbered in pencil in the lower margin.
What is the medium?
A hand-pulled screen print in Peterson's signature black, gold and white palette on a pale paper 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 that draw on Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art. He 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.