The violence and hostility are rendered senseless in the works of American artist Cleon Peterson. Inspired by art history, specifically the classic Greco-Roman vases and their depictions of warriors and heroes in battles, the artist creates works that speak about the everlasting conflict between power and submission in today's society. About his work, Peterson said:
I paint a reality that not everybody has gone through, but it exists and is out there. There is a sort of primary life that goes with misery, that is what I try to approach in my paintings.
Cleon Peterson, born in 1973 in Seattle, expressed interest in art from a young age. His grandfather, an English professor, poet, and theologian, was responsible for most of his early education. At just fourteen years old, he left school and, on his own, obtained GED and entered the Graphic Design at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. After graduating with BFA, he earned his master's degree from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Detroit. About leaving school at a young age, Peterson said:
Joseph Campbell talks about following your bliss. In the end, I think everyone should follow this advice and find something like and pursue it.
After graduating, the artist moved to San Diego, where he worked as a skateboard graphic designer for several renowned businesses, including Zero Skateboards, Foundation Skateboards, and Pig Wheels, to name a few. In 1998 he was a part of artist Shepard Fairey's California street team.
In the early 2000s, Peterson began showcasing his work in group exhibitions. The artist is not concerned with who is the loser or a winner, for the system at its heart is broken. Thus in his artworks, the violence is often depicted without censorship, highlighting the authoritarian power. Influenced by Greek pottery designs and propaganda posters, he creates striking imagery packed with scenes of volatile conflicts.
He creates monochromatic works by choosing a simple color palette and limiting himself to white, black, yellow, and red. Often, the artist does not add background to his work, choosing instead to leave it bare. Thus the violence and aggression can not be put in any context that can explain or justify it, like in works entitled Eclipse (2017) and The Genocide (2016). In his life, Peterson is drawn to violence, for which he blames his natural disposition, which favors chaos and anger. These two volatile emotions are what gives fuel his creativity.
Cleon Peterson's work has been exhibited in numerous group and solo shows, including Mr. Sinister (2022) at Albertz Benda in New York, Truth & Lies (2021) at OTI Gallery in Los Angeles, and Exiles (2021) at Louis Buhl in Detroit. Throughout his career, he has exhibited in Paris, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and London. In 2023 is planning a solo show entitled Cleon Peterson at KaiKai KiKi in Tokyo and will participate in the group exhibition City Lights at Albertz Benda.
Cleon Peterson lives and works in Los Angeles.
Featured image: Photo of Cleon Peterson. All images copyright of the artist.
Have a question or a technical issue? Want to learn more about our services to art dealers? Let us know and you'll hear from us within the next 24 hours.