Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “Full Of Hate & Hoodwinked”
Summary
A two-panel screen print pairing two Cleon Peterson propaganda-style posters: a left sheet of red rats tearing each other apart in flames under the slogan "KEEP THEM FULL OF HATE & FIGHTING OVER THE SCRAPS / WHILE WE FEAST IN THE SHADOWS," and a right sheet of a chained, slumped red figure behind prison bars reading "VOTED FOR FREEDOM / GOT CHAINS INSTEAD / AUTHORITARIANISM ALWAYS DELIVERS." It distills Peterson's recurring concerns—manufactured division, power, and the betrayal of the governed—into mock-civic agitprop.
Why It Matters
The work shows Peterson moving from his signature mythic-brawl imagery into the language of overt political propaganda, weaponizing the bold typographic poster format he shares with collaborator Shepard Fairey. The two halves operate as cause and effect: the rats fighting over scraps illustrate how the powerful keep the public divided, while the caged figure who "voted for freedom" shows the result. Reduced to a stark black-white-red palette and blunt slogans, it is among his most directly topical statements on authoritarianism and engineered conflict, making it a sharp encapsulation of the social-critique thread running through his entire body of work.
Collector Perspective
A 2025 screen print in a very small edition of just 18, which puts it firmly in the scarce, low-supply end of Peterson's print output. Works in this format are typically signed and numbered by the artist. As a paired/diptych release of recent vintage with a tiny run, it is more of a completist or dedicated-collector piece than an entry-level acquisition; expect limited secondary-market float given how few exist. Pricing should track Peterson's recent small-edition political prints rather than his larger open or mid-size editions.
Historical Context
Produced in 2025, this print belongs to Peterson's ongoing vein of politically charged, slogan-driven works that intensified through the mid-2020s, sharpening the propaganda-poster aesthetic he developed alongside Shepard Fairey. Where his earlier work leaned on classical and mythic combat scenes, these pieces adopt the direct visual grammar of agitprop and civic signage to indict manufactured division and authoritarian power—continuing the central preoccupation with the abuse of power that has defined his practice since the early 2010s.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
It is a two-panel work: one sheet shows red rats fighting in flames with the slogan about keeping people 'full of hate & fighting over the scraps,' and the other shows a chained figure behind prison bars who 'voted for freedom' but 'got chains instead.' Together they critique engineered division and authoritarianism.
What is the edition size?
The edition is limited to just 18, making it one of Cleon Peterson's scarcer print releases.
Is it signed and numbered?
Works in this small-edition screen-print format are typically hand-signed and numbered by the artist; buyers should confirm the specific signing/numbering with the seller.
What is the medium?
It is a screen print (silkscreen), produced in 2025 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. Drawing on Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art, and a frequent collaborator of Shepard Fairey, he uses a flat black/white/red/gold palette to expose the brutality and abuse of power beneath civilization.
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.