Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “Tired Of The Show & Feudal Trouble”
Summary
A two-panel screenprint diptych built as a pair of mock vintage public-service advertisements. The left panel, "Tired Of Being In The Show?", shows a marionette figure cutting his own strings with scissors against a red flaming backdrop ("They may pull the strings but you hold the scissors"); the right panel, "Having Issues Transitioning To A Feudal State?", depicts an inverted, falling uniformed authority figure surrounded by skull-faced onlookers ("Relax — you're being elevated to peasant"). It distills Cleon Peterson's central themes of power, control, and resistance into the language of satirical propaganda.
Why It Matters
The work shows Peterson sharpening his usual mob-and-violence iconography into dark political satire, using the deadpan format of mid-century instructional advertising to comment on manipulation, authoritarianism, and class hierarchy. The marionette cutting its own strings and the deposed authority figure "elevated to peasant" turn his recurring power-and-control motifs into pointed, quotable messaging — making this one of his more text-driven, overtly political statements rather than a purely figurative brawl scene.
Collector Perspective
A 2025 screen print in a small edition of 18, which places it firmly among Peterson's scarcest print releases — typical hand-pulled drops run far larger. The diptych format and propaganda-poster styling give it strong wall presence and a distinct identity within his catalog. Buyers should confirm it is hand-signed and numbered, as is standard for his editioned prints. With only 18 examples, supply is thin; expect limited secondary availability and pricing driven by the tiny edition rather than broad market depth.
Historical Context
Released in 2025, the work sits in Peterson's recent body of overtly political, text-forward prints that lean on satire and slogan rather than the purely figurative violence of his earlier "Poison" and "End of Empire" periods. Borrowing the visual grammar of vintage advertising and propaganda, it extends his long-running critique of power and social control into a more explicitly editorial register.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
It is a two-panel diptych styled as mock vintage public-service ads. The left shows a marionette cutting his own strings with scissors over a flaming red ground; the right shows an inverted, falling police/military figure ringed by skull-faced figures, captioned 'Relax — you're being elevated to peasant.'
What is the edition size?
The edition is limited to 18.
Is it signed and numbered?
Peterson's limited editions are typically hand-signed and numbered; buyers should confirm signing and numbering details with the seller before purchase.
What medium is it?
It is a screen print (silkscreen), produced in 2025.
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 in a flat black, white, and red palette. He draws on 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.