Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Cleon Peterson Print Index
Kill Your Sons (White)
Summary
A glazed porcelain figure from 2015, Kill Your Sons (White) translates Cleon Peterson's flat, high-contrast painted vocabulary into three dimensions. Standing 10.25 inches on a 7.75-inch base and issued in an edition of just 10 through Library Street Collective, it renders Peterson's recurring theme of generational violence as a physical, sculptural object rather than a printed image.
Why It Matters
Peterson is best known as a printmaker and muralist, so a ceramic sculpture is a genuine departure. The porcelain medium forces his brutal figuration into a fragile, collectible form, and at an edition of 10 it is among the scarcest formats he has released. For collectors, it represents the artist working outside two dimensions.
Collector Perspective
Ceramic editions this small rarely circulate, and porcelain's fragility means condition and intact examples matter enormously. This is a piece for a collector building depth in Peterson rather than a first acquisition. The Library Street Collective association and the white glaze variant distinguish it from the black colorway within the same series.
Historical Context
Released in 2015 during a prolific stretch of Peterson's career, the work coincides with his sharpest social-commentary output. The title evokes cycles of aggression passed between generations, a theme running through his mural and print practice. Library Street Collective, the Detroit gallery, has long championed his sculptural experiments.
FAQ
What is the edition size?
The edition is limited to 10 examples, making it one of Peterson's scarcest released formats.
What material is it made from?
Glazed porcelain, in a white colorway distinct from the black version of the same sculpture.
How large is the sculpture?
It stands 10.25 inches tall on a 7.75-inch square base.
Who published it?
Library Street Collective, the Detroit gallery that represents Peterson's sculptural work.
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.