Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “The Wanderer”
Summary
A lone solitary figure stands atop a jagged black-and-gray rocky outcrop, gazing out at a vast sky broken up by drifting black and pale-gray clouds. Departing from Cleon Peterson's usual scenes of mob violence and brutal combat, "The Wanderer" is a quieter, more contemplative composition that nods directly to Caspar David Friedrich's Romantic "Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog," recast in Peterson's flat, high-contrast graphic language.
Why It Matters
The Wanderer" is notable precisely because it steps away from the writhing crowds and bloodshed that define most of Cleon Peterson's output. Here a single anonymous figure surveys an empty, brooding landscape, trading explicit violence for solitude, scale and existential reflection. By appropriating one of art history's most iconic images of Romantic self-determination and stripping it down to stark black, white and gray silhouettes, Peterson reframes the heroic loner as a more ambiguous, isolated presence, surveying a world rather than dominating it. It demonstrates the artist's reach beyond shock value into mood and art-historical dialogue, making it a distinctive entry for collectors who follow his evolution.
Collector Perspective
This is a 2025 screen print in a very small edition of just 20, which puts it firmly in the scarce-to-rare end of Peterson's print output, where editions more commonly run 75 to 150. The deckled edges and hand-pencil signature and numbering at the lower margin are consistent with Peterson's hand-pulled releases. Its restrained, atmospheric palette and uncharacteristically calm subject set it apart from his signature red/black violence prints, which can make it either a connoisseur's pick or a slower sell depending on the buyer; the tiny edition size is the main driver of desirability and should support resale value over time.
Historical Context
Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) built his reputation in the 2010s on flat, high-contrast scenes of violence, power and social conflict, drawing on Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art, and collaborating frequently with Shepard Fairey. "The Wanderer," released in 2025, belongs to a later, more reflective vein of his work in which he applies his graphic vocabulary to art-historical and landscape motifs. The lone figure on a peak is an unmistakable reworking of Caspar David Friedrich's circa-1818 Romantic icon, here rendered in Peterson's reductive black-white-gray silhouette style.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
A single solitary figure standing atop a craggy black and gray rock formation, looking out over a wide sky filled with drifting clouds. It reworks Caspar David Friedrich's Romantic painting 'Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog' in Cleon Peterson's flat, high-contrast graphic style.
How large is the edition?
The edition is just 20, a notably small run for Cleon Peterson and one of the main reasons the print is scarce.
Is it signed and numbered?
Yes. The print is hand-signed in pencil by Cleon Peterson and numbered in the lower margin, consistent with his hand-pulled limited editions.
What is the medium?
It is a hand-pulled screen print (silkscreen) on paper with deckled edges, produced in 2025.
Who is Cleon Peterson?
Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) is an American artist known for stark black, white, red and gold scenes of violence, power and social conflict, influenced by Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art, and 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.