Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “Eye For Eye (First Edition)”
Summary
A stark black-on-white screen print showing one hulking figure violently overpowering and stabbing a smaller, fleeing figure, blood and a clutched blade rendered in dense silhouette. It is a definitive example of Cleon Peterson's brutal vocabulary of dominance and assault, built from the flat, frieze-like figuration he adapts from ancient Greek vase painting.
Why It Matters
Eye For Eye" distills the central thesis of Peterson's practice: that civilization is a thin veneer over predatory violence, and that retribution only perpetuates the cycle of brutality the title names. The composition strips away color entirely, relying on the artist's signature flat black silhouettes and white ground to read with the immediacy of a warning sign or a vase fragment. Produced in 2014, it sits in the prolific mid-career period when Peterson's black-and-white aggressor/victim scenes cemented his reputation, making this a clean, archetypal statement of the imagery collectors most associate with his name.
Collector Perspective
A small edition of 40, hand-signed and numbered in pencil by the artist, with the date noted lower right. The monochrome black-and-white screen prints are among the most recognizable of Peterson's editioned output, and a sub-50 run keeps this firmly on the scarce end of his print market. As a "First Edition" it carries the original release status collectors prefer over later restrikes or color variants. Condition and clean margins matter on these high-contrast prints, since the broad white field shows handling readily. Market interest is steady rather than speculative; this is a desirable but accessible entry into Peterson's core black-and-white imagery.
Historical Context
Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) emerged through the 2010s as one of the most uncompromising voices in the street-art-adjacent contemporary print world, frequently collaborating with Shepard Fairey. His work translates the formal language of ancient Greek black-figure vase painting, Hogarth's moral satires, and graffiti into stark scenes of fighting and domination that critique the abuse of power. "Eye For Eye," released in 2014, belongs to this defining black-and-white body of work in which faceless figures enact cycles of violence and revenge against blank grounds.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
A large dominant figure attacking and stabbing a smaller, fleeing figure, rendered entirely in flat black silhouette against a white ground, with blood and a clutched blade visible. It depicts an act of violent retribution, echoing the biblical 'eye for an eye' of the title.
How large is the edition?
The edition is limited to 40 prints. This release is designated the First Edition.
Is it signed and numbered?
Yes. These are hand-signed and numbered in pencil by Cleon Peterson, typically in the lower margin, with the year noted as well.
What is the medium?
It is a screen print (silkscreen), the technique Peterson uses most often for his flat, high-contrast black-and-white compositions.
Who is Cleon Peterson?
Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) is an American contemporary artist known for stark black-white-red scenes of violence, power and social conflict, drawing on Greek vase painting 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.