Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Cleon Peterson Print Index
The Light Bearer (2026 Red)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
The Light Bearer (2026 Red) is a 2026 self-released, hand-pulled screen print by Cleon Peterson, issued in an edition of 50 at 18 x 24 inches on 290gsm Coventry Rag paper with deckled edges. The larger format and red colorway give this composition a commanding presence, framing a singular figure within Peterson's stark graphic language.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Limited edition of 50. Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
The "light bearer" motif introduces an ambiguous, almost allegorical figure into Peterson's typically anonymous cast — a bearer of illumination that, given the artist's fascination with power and its abuses, resists any simple heroic reading. It is a title that invites the collector to weigh enlightenment against domination, a recurring tension in his practice.
Collector Perspective
At 18 x 24 inches this is a step up in scale from Peterson's small-format 2026 reds, and the larger sheet typically carries more wall impact and desirability. The edition of 50 keeps it accessible while remaining genuinely limited. Collectors should verify signature, numbering, and the integrity of the deckled edges on the heavier presentation.
Historical Context
Allegorical and quasi-religious titling appears intermittently across Peterson's catalog, where torch-bearing or sword-wielding figures echo classical and biblical iconography reframed through a brutal contemporary lens. The Light Bearer continues his method of borrowing the visual authority of myth to interrogate modern power structures.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2026
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Screen Print; catalog dimensions 24 x 18 inches; Hand-pulled screen print; On 290gsm Coventry Rag paper with deckled edges.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Limited edition of 50.
- Signature and marks
- Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats Cleon Peterson's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: No per-work artist statement is recorded for this edition. Any thematic reading should be treated as interpretation of the imagery, not a documented statement of the artist's intent. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2026 and attributes the edition to Cleon Peterson (Self Released).
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to Cleon Peterson (Self Released). That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, year, edition, dimensions, medium, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- Cleon Peterson — official site — Cleon Peterson studio · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official artist site; career context, not an individual-edition record.
- Cleon Peterson — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Cleon Peterson (Q124215748) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
How does this differ from the smaller 2026 red prints?
At 18 x 24 inches, The Light Bearer is a larger-format work than Peterson's 13.5 x 18 inch releases from the same period, giving a single figure greater scale and presence on the wall.
What paper is it printed on?
290gsm Coventry Rag paper with deckled edges, the archival cotton stock Peterson uses across his 2026 self-released editions.
Is the edition size the same as his other 2026 reds?
Yes, this is an edition of 50, consistent with several of his other self-released 2026 red-colorway prints.
What is the significance of the title?
The 'light bearer' is an allegorical figure. Within Peterson's body of work, such figures are rarely straightforwardly heroic and often carry an undercurrent of authority or menace.
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