Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Cleon Peterson Print Index
Endless Sleep (Black)
Summary
"Endless Sleep (Black)" (2016) is a 28 x 28-inch hand-pulled screen print on 290gsm Coventry Rag with deckled edges, signed and numbered in an edition of 150. Created in connection with Peterson's Palais de Tokyo collaboration for Nuit Blanche at the Eiffel Tower, it derives from the Renaissance dream-allegory "Hypnerotomachia Poliphili."
Why It Matters
This print carries genuine institutional provenance, linked to a Palais de Tokyo project and a public mural at the Eiffel Tower for Paris's Nuit Blanche. Its literary source in the "Strife of Love in a Dream" gives it unusual conceptual depth for Peterson, and the mural connection makes the edition a documented record of a major site-specific work.
Collector Perspective
The Palais de Tokyo and Nuit Blanche associations meaningfully strengthen provenance and collector narrative, distinguishing this from Peterson's purely studio editions. The 150-count run and large square format place it among his substantial mid-decade works. Signature, edition number, and clean deckled edges on the large sheet are the standard condition checks.
Historical Context
The print's source, the "Hypnerotomachia Poliphili," is an Early Renaissance tale of a perilous dream-voyage undertaken for love, ending in the waking pain of unrequited longing. Peterson mapped this narrative of desire and loss onto a mural and edition tied to Nuit Blanche 2016, extending his usual themes of struggle into the register of yearning.
FAQ
What is the connection to the Eiffel Tower?
The image derives from a mural Peterson created in collaboration with the Palais de Tokyo for Nuit Blanche at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
What story inspired it?
It draws on the Early Renaissance tale "Hypnerotomachia Poliphili," or "Poliphilo's Strife of Love in a Dream," a dream-quest for love that ends in unrequited longing.
What is the edition size?
It is a limited edition of 150, each 28 x 28-inch impression signed and numbered by the artist.
About the Artist
Cleon Peterson (born 1973, Seattle) is an American artist known for stark, high-contrast compositions depicting scenes of violence, power, and social conflict. Working primarily in a limited palette — often black on a single bold ground — he renders chaotic tableaux of figures locked in struggle, exploring themes of authority, brutality, and moral disorder in contemporary society. His graphic, almost hieroglyphic style has appeared in paintings, murals, and a substantial catalogue of signed prints, as well as collaborations spanning fashion and public art. He is based in Los Angeles.
Collecting Cleon Peterson at Gauntlet Gallery
Which Cleon Peterson works should I collect?
His signed, numbered screenprints are the core of the market, prized for their bold duotone impact. Look for clean registration and strong condition. Gauntlet Gallery prioritizes complete, well-preserved impressions with documentation.
How is a Cleon Peterson piece authenticated?
We sell his works with documented provenance and the edition's signature and numbering. Each piece is photographed as-is, including signature and edition details, so you can verify before purchase.
What drives value?
Edition size, image iconicity, color scheme, condition, and provenance drive value. Low-numbered, large-format, and hand-embellished works command the strongest premiums.