Arches Fine Art Paper

Money and Power- Black Hand-Pulled 1-Color Silkscreen Print on Hand Deckled 290gsm Arches Rag Paper by Artist Cleon Peterson Limited Edition Art Artwork. 2022 Signed & Numbered Limited Edition of 75 Artwork Size 18x18 "Money and Power have become primary drivers in the modern world, pushing us toward a corrupt society. The days when our leaders looked out for the people's interests have become a thing of the past—replaced by the strong man who squashes the voices of dissent to set things straight. Money elects leaders; in return, they owe a debt to the people that put them in Power—enacting our new public policy of greed and gangster capitalism. We slowly accept corruption, Law slowly fades away, and people begin to feel like democracy and a fair and equitable society were always just an illusion, a dream from the past that never really even existed." -Cleon Peterson Money and Power by Cleon Peterson – A Stark Allegory of Corruption in Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork Money and Power is a powerful black hand-pulled 1-color silkscreen print created by Cleon Peterson in 2022. Produced in a limited edition of just 75 signed and numbered pieces, this 18x18 inch artwork is printed on 290gsm Arches rag paper with hand-deckled edges, emphasizing its artisanal quality and rarity. The stark yellow figures and flag, laid over a deep black background, serve as a searing visual metaphor of political decay and societal control. With simplified, militaristic forms, Peterson’s composition marches forward in rigid formation, symbolizing a collective submission to authoritarian rule driven by capitalist greed. The central banner bearing a dollar sign encapsulates the theme in one potent glyph: money has become the new god, the flag under which societies now march. Cleon Peterson's Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork – A Violent Mirror of Power Structures Cleon Peterson, born in the United States in 1973, is known globally for his uncompromising and provocative style that merges elements of street art, pop iconography, and a graffiti aesthetic into biting social commentary. His work does not rely on subtlety but instead confronts the viewer with raw and unsettling imagery. In Money and Power, Peterson explores how capitalist motives have become indistinguishable from systems of governance. The faceless, weapon-wielding figures invoke totalitarian control, with each character's uniformity and march-step illustrating the erasure of individual thought and freedom. Peterson’s use of a single bold color evokes propaganda art, recalling wartime posters and dictatorial regimes, reinforcing the critique that today’s economic elites and political figures have blended into a single oppressive force. Money and Power as a Visual Manifesto Against Gangster Capitalism This piece stands as a visual thesis against what Peterson terms gangster capitalism. He expresses the idea that leaders are no longer elected to serve the public good but instead owe their power to financial interests. These interests then dictate policy, ensuring that the cycle of wealth consolidation and systemic inequality continues unchecked. In the artwork, the figures do not march for justice or liberty, but for power sustained by money. The gun in each figure's hand underscores how violence or the threat of it is now a normalized tool for maintaining order in this corrupt structure. As law and accountability fade, Peterson’s image becomes a grim prophecy, showing a society where control is absolute and voices of dissent are methodically extinguished. A Defining Work in Modern Political Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork Money and Power exemplifies the essential mission of street pop art and graffiti artwork: to challenge viewers, provoke thought, and expose uncomfortable truths. Peterson uses minimalist design to deliver a maximalist message—every line, posture, and symbol communicates urgency and danger. The limited nature of the piece and the labor-intensive silkscreen technique elevate its importance as a collectible while preserving the raw authenticity central to street and graffiti art origins. It operates not merely as a print but as a declaration—one that distills Peterson’s disdain for performative democracy and unregulated capitalism into a concise, unforgettable image. The work’s impact lies in its clarity and its refusal to soften the critique, marking it as a seminal moment in Peterson’s body of work and a critical reflection of our time.

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Money and Power- White Hand-Pulled 1-Color Silkscreen Print on Hand Deckled 290gsm Arches Rag Paper by Artist Cleon Peterson Limited Edition Art Artwork. 2022 Signed & Numbered Limited Edition of 75 Artwork Size 18x18 "Money and Power have become primary drivers in the modern world, pushing us toward a corrupt society. The days when our leaders looked out for the people's interests have become a thing of the past—replaced by the strong man who squashes the voices of dissent to set things straight. Money elects leaders; in return, they owe a debt to the people that put them in Power—enacting our new public policy of greed and gangster capitalism. We slowly accept corruption, Law slowly fades away, and people begin to feel like democracy and a fair and equitable society were always just an illusion, a dream from the past that never really even existed." -Cleon Peterson Money and Power by Cleon Peterson – White Edition of a Stark Political Allegory in Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork Money and Power by Cleon Peterson is a 2022 signed and numbered hand-pulled silkscreen print, produced in a limited edition of 75. Measuring 18x18 inches and printed in black ink on pristine white 290gsm Arches rag paper with hand-deckled edges, this piece delivers a powerful statement using minimalism to reveal the mechanics of authoritarian control and capitalist dominance. The design features three militarized figures marching in unison beneath a dollar-sign emblazoned banner. Each figure salutes with one hand while gripping a weapon in the other, marching in lockstep toward a future defined not by democracy or justice, but by obedience to power shaped through wealth. The precision of the stark black-on-white imagery reinforces the rigidity and dehumanization portrayed, highlighting the shift from collective governance to capitalist-driven authoritarianism. Cleon Peterson’s American Vision of Modern Power Structures Cleon Peterson, an American artist born in 1973, is renowned for his distinctive graphic style that merges the brutal directness of street art with a pop art sensibility. His works are not decorative—they are confrontational, morally urgent, and reflective of systemic violence. Money and Power exemplifies Peterson’s ability to distill complex socio-political realities into singular, unforgettable images. This white edition removes any distraction and allows the viewer to focus entirely on the content and message. The absence of color echoes the perceived erasure of nuance in modern governance, where decisions are no longer dictated by ethical considerations but by financial allegiance. Peterson uses his background in design and graffiti to strip down the message to its essence—those who control money control the message, the law, and the people. Symbolism of Marching Figures and the Banner of Capital The figures in Money and Power are reduced to symbols of conformity and control. With robotic movements and identical expressions, they act not as protectors of the public, but as agents of a system that prioritizes wealth preservation over civic duty. The gun in each hand is not just a weapon—it is a metaphor for the threat that sustains the hierarchy. The saluting gesture, typically a sign of honor or loyalty, is here rendered as a chilling submission to corrupt ideology. Above them, the banner with a dollar sign takes the place of national or moral symbols, declaring money as the new flag under which modern societies march. This image captures what Peterson describes as gangster capitalism—an economy and government fused into a singular corrupt force that erodes public agency and the very foundation of democracy. Money and Power as a Landmark of Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork This edition of Money and Power exists as both a work of fine art and a political poster, calling attention to the social decay born of greed and power consolidation. It stands firmly within the tradition of Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork, using accessible imagery to convey truths that are often ignored or downplayed in institutional settings. Peterson’s decision to limit the edition to 75 hand-pulled prints adds gravity to its message, making each piece a personal call to awareness and resistance. As street art evolved from rebellion to collectible, artists like Peterson have held firm to the medium’s roots—using public-facing visuals to voice dissent. This piece does not seek to comfort or beautify, but to warn. It captures a world where money no longer funds democracy but replaces it, revealing a cycle where power begets power and the people are simply marched along.

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Money and Power- Yellow Hand-Pulled 1-Color Silkscreen Print on Hand Deckled 290gsm Arches Rag Paper by Artist Cleon Peterson Limited Edition Art Artwork. 2022 Signed & Numbered Limited Edition of 75 Artwork Size 18x18 "Money and Power have become primary drivers in the modern world, pushing us toward a corrupt society. The days when our leaders looked out for the people's interests have become a thing of the past—replaced by the strong man who squashes the voices of dissent to set things straight. Money elects leaders; in return, they owe a debt to the people that put them in Power—enacting our new public policy of greed and gangster capitalism. We slowly accept corruption, Law slowly fades away, and people begin to feel like democracy and a fair and equitable society were always just an illusion, a dream from the past that never really even existed." -Cleon Peterson Money and Power by Cleon Peterson – Yellow Edition Silkscreen Print in Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork Money and Power by Cleon Peterson is a visually forceful hand-pulled 1-color silkscreen print produced in a striking yellow edition. Created in 2022 as a signed and numbered limited edition of only 75, this 18x18 inch artwork is printed on 290gsm Arches rag paper with hand-deckled edges, reinforcing its raw and crafted authenticity. Set against a saturated yellow background, the black silhouettes of uniformed figures march in unison beneath a banner marked with a dollar sign. This aggressive formation of faceless, weapon-bearing agents symbolizes how capital and authority have become intertwined forces shaping modern life. The contrast of black on yellow sharpens the urgency of the message, evoking caution signs and industrial warnings, reflecting the dangers of unchecked power. It is a bold statement, stark and deliberately unambiguous in its critique of political and economic systems. Cleon Peterson’s Visual Protest Against Gangster Capitalism American artist Cleon Peterson, born in 1973, has become known for creating art that exposes the mechanics of dominance, submission, and systemic violence. In Money and Power, Peterson addresses what he terms gangster capitalism—the merging of financial interest and authoritarianism. This yellow edition is not merely an aesthetic variation; it magnifies the intensity of the warning. The figures are rendered without individuality, acting not as civil servants or protectors but as enforcers of a corrupt economic order. Each character, with one hand saluting and the other gripping a firearm, marches without deviation under a banner where money is the emblem. Peterson’s use of militarized repetition critiques the dehumanization that occurs when loyalty is bought and dissent is extinguished by force. The visual simplicity masks a deeply complex message: society has drifted from democratic ideals into a structure where the value of life is weighed against the price of power. Symbolism and Execution in the Yellow Silkscreen Edition This edition’s choice of yellow background plays a crucial role in reinforcing the thematic content. Yellow, typically associated with visibility and warning, brings a harsh clarity to the disturbing unity of the figures. It forces the viewer to confront the image directly, without distraction or ambiguity. The hand-pulled technique and 1-color silkscreen process ensure that each print carries the physical presence of the artist’s vision, resisting digital detachment. Hand-deckled paper adds an organic imperfection that contrasts with the mechanical rigidity of the marchers, underscoring the tension between individual craftsmanship and institutional conformity. The entire composition operates as a visual manifesto, presenting a world where money is not simply a tool but a banner under which violence, obedience, and corruption are normalized. Money and Power as a Defining Work in Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork Money and Power belongs squarely in the tradition of Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork. It communicates political urgency through direct visual language, staying rooted in the protest origins of graffiti and the bold iconography of pop art. Peterson’s work challenges systems of authority by confronting viewers with uncomfortable truths, using art not for decoration but for disruption. This yellow edition distills contemporary disillusionment into one unforgettable image, showing how democracy erodes when capital becomes the highest power. As with all of Peterson’s most impactful works, it does not ask for quiet reflection—it demands awareness and accountability. It stands as a limited yet forceful artifact of protest, frozen in print but echoing across modern political consciousness.

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