Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “Judgement (Black & Gold)”
Summary
A dense, all-over battle scene rendered in metallic gold on black, where dozens of nude and partially clothed figures stab, club, drag, and trample one another across a frieze-like field. Judgement (Black & Gold) is a prime example of Cleon Peterson's signature depiction of mob brutality and the collapse of moral order, executed in the flat, classical-vase idiom that defines his most celebrated work.
Why It Matters
This print distills everything Peterson is known for into a single, unrelenting composition: anonymous bodies locked in mutual destruction, aggressors and victims indistinguishable, civilization stripped down to raw predation. The gold-on-black palette deliberately invokes ancient Greek black-figure pottery and gilded religious iconography, lending a timeless, almost sacred weight to scenes of contemporary savagery. The title Judgement reframes the chaos as a reckoning, aligning the work with Peterson's broader project of exposing how power, cruelty, and crowd violence recur across history. As one of his richer, gilded editions rather than the standard black/white/red palette, it sits among the more visually striking statements in his print catalog.
Collector Perspective
A 2014 screen print from Peterson's peak period, when his market visibility was climbing through gallery shows and the Shepard Fairey association. Edition size is not confirmed here; Peterson screen prints of this era typically run in the low hundreds and are hand-signed and numbered, though buyers should verify signature and numbering on the specific copy. The gold-on-black variant is more decorative and wall-commanding than his red/white prints, which tends to support demand. Market position is mid-tier within his print output: accessible to collectors building a Peterson set, with steadier interest than his most common open imagery but below his largest sculptural or unique works.
Historical Context
Made in 2014, during the stretch when Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) broke out from the street/lowbrow scene into international gallery representation. The work belongs to the body of black-figure battle scenes that established his visual language: flat silhouetted figures, no perspective, a horror-vacui field of violence borrowed from Greek vase painting, Hogarth's moral satires, and graffiti. This period set the template for the End of Empire vases and large mural commissions that followed.
FAQ
What does Judgement (Black & Gold) depict?
A chaotic, frieze-like mass of nude and clothed figures attacking one another with clubs, knives, and bare hands, sprawled and writhing across the entire surface. There is no single hero or villain; everyone is both aggressor and victim, depicting indiscriminate mob violence and the breakdown of order.
What is the medium and year?
It is a screen print from 2014, printed in metallic gold ink on a black ground.
How large is the edition, and is it signed?
The edition size is not confirmed in our records. Peterson screen prints from this era are typically hand-signed and numbered by the artist; buyers should confirm the signature and edition number on the specific copy offered.
Why the gold-and-black palette?
Peterson uses gold on black to evoke ancient Greek black-figure pottery and gilded religious imagery, giving scenes of modern brutality a timeless, ceremonial gravity. It is a richer, more decorative alternative to his common black/white/red prints.
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. He draws on classical vase painting, Hogarth, and street art, and is a frequent collaborator of 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.