Live to Kill Vase is a limited-edition ceramic sculpture by American artist Cleon Peterson, released in 2021.

The work is constructed in glossy white ceramic and measures approximately 30.5 × 30.5 × 10.2 cm / 12 × 12 × 4 in. It was produced in a limited edition of 500 examples by NTWRK in Los Angeles, with the project also associated with Beyond the Streets.

The sculptural form depicts a clenched hand gripping a knife, one of the recurring visual motifs in Peterson’s work. Rendered entirely in glossy white ceramic, the object reduces the image to a bold silhouette while giving it the physical presence of a three-dimensional sculpture.

Although designed as a functional vase, Live to Kill operates equally as a standalone art object. The opening at the top allows flowers or other decorative elements to be inserted, creating a deliberate contrast between the domestic function of a vase and the violent imagery of the hand and blade.

Peterson’s wider practice is known for highly graphic scenes of confrontation, domination, resistance, and social disorder. His monochromatic figures often appear locked in struggles for control, allowing him to explore themes including authoritarianism, alienation, power, fear, and the darker aspects of contemporary social structures.

The vase translates that two-dimensional graphic language into sculpture without losing its visual directness. The smooth ceramic finish and clean white surface contrast sharply with the aggressive subject matter, reinforcing the tension between beauty, design, violence, and functionality.

The work was produced in a strictly limited edition of 500, making it substantially more collectible than open-production decorative objects.

Artist: Cleon Peterson
Title: Live to Kill Vase
Format: Limited-edition ceramic sculpture / functional art vase
Medium: Glossy white ceramic
Year: 2021
Edition: Limited edition of 500
Signature: Not hand-signed
Marking: Stamped / edition identification documented on production examples
Dimensions: Approx. 30.5 × 30.5 × 10.2 cm / 12 × 12 × 4 in
Producer: NTWRK, Los Angeles
Collaboration: Released in connection with Beyond the Streets / NTWRK
Color: Glossy white
Form: Sculptural hand gripping a knife
Function: Decorative sculpture / flower vase
Country: United States
Subject: Violence, power, conflict, authority, and social tension
Presentation: Custom original presentation box
Set includes: 1 Cleon Peterson Live to Kill Vase with original packaging