Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Cleon Peterson Print Index
Riot
Summary
Riot is a 2007 screen print by Cleon Peterson, published by New Image Art in an edition of 100 at 50 x 50 cm. Dating from the earliest phase of Peterson's printmaking, it captures the artist working out the raw, confrontational visual language of massed bodies and physical struggle that would come to define his mature work.
Why It Matters
This is a foundational Peterson print. Its 2007 date places it years before the artist's wider recognition, and the New Image Art imprint ties it to the Los Angeles gallery that championed his early output. As a first-edition work from the start of his practice, Riot documents the origin of the mob-and-conflict motifs that recur across his career.
Collector Perspective
For collectors, early Peterson material carries outsized appeal precisely because it predates his broader ascent. The edition of 100 is modest, and works from 2007 surface far less often than his later, larger releases. Provenance to New Image Art and the square 50 x 50 cm format make Riot a coherent, focused acquisition for anyone building depth in Peterson's origins.
Historical Context
By 2007 Cleon Peterson was emerging from a Los Angeles graphic and street-adjacent milieu, developing a stark figurative style rooted in violence and power. New Image Art, the West Hollywood gallery known for supporting counterculture and street-connected artists, provided the platform. Riot belongs to this formative moment, before Peterson's signature two-tone palette and monumental scale fully crystallized.
FAQ
When was Riot made and who published it?
Riot is dated 2007 and was published by New Image Art, the Los Angeles gallery that supported Cleon Peterson's early work. It is a screen print from the opening chapter of his printmaking career.
How large is the edition?
The edition is 100. Combined with its 2007 date, this modest run makes early first-edition examples relatively uncommon compared with Peterson's later releases.
What are the dimensions and medium?
Riot is a screen print measuring 50 x 50 cm, a compact square format. As with all hand-pulled screen prints, individual impressions can show slight variation.
Why is this print significant within Peterson's catalog?
It is one of his earliest published prints, documenting the crowd-conflict and struggle imagery that became central to his later work. Its early date and New Image Art provenance give it a distinct place in his history.
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.