Cleon Peterson is a Los Angeles-based contemporary artist whose distinctive visual language explores power, violence, domination and submission within contemporary society. Born in Seattle in 1973, Peterson developed a graphic and highly recognizable style built around simplified figures, strong contrasts and scenes of confrontation.
His work combines the visual impact of graphic design with references to political imagery, classical compositions and the aesthetics of urban culture. His figures often appear locked in cycles of conflict, creating stark scenes that question authority, social order and the structures of power that shape contemporary life.
Peterson studied graphic design at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena before receiving his MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2006. He lives and works in Los Angeles.
His work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, Cranbrook Art Museum, Galerie du Jour — agnès b., Library Street Collective, Albertz Benda and Kaikai Kiki Gallery in Tokyo.
Among his notable bodies of work are Blood & Soil, The Judgement, End of Days, Victory, Hysteria and Under the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars. His bibliography also includes Cleon Peterson: Blood and Soil, published in partnership with Cranbrook Art Museum in 2023.