Held in a different location across Devon every year, the annual Devon Open Studios exhibition will be held at Leadworks on Rendle Street Plymouth between 6th and 28th September 2024.
Leadworks is an innovative social enterprise that offers grassroots community organisations and artists a space to work, create, and connect. Alongside the exhibiting space, there is a performing space plus a café and bar, so the venue also hosts live music events, open mike evenings and much more.
This, in turn, has offered Devon Open Studios the opportunity to expand on their event significantly and include guest exhibitors from outside the DOS group. As a result, I was fascinated to discover the links between many of the DOS members and other exhibitors’ art and the music scene, predominantly from a Heavy Metal and punk perspective.
The event focuses this year on Reminiscences interpreted in different ways by each individual artist. This year for the first time also features the inclusion of a live music element with a performance from Toronto based Sam Astaroth who will deliver his DemonCore rituals on the opening evening, of Friday 6th of September.
Christophe Szpajdel
The exhibitors at this event include Christophe Szpajdel, who is also the group leader/ coordinator this year. A Belgian of Polish descent, Szpajdel is a graphic designer, illustrator, artist and calligraphist currently living in Exeter, Devon.
Szpajdel is best known as Lord Of The Logos, having designed well over 10,000 logos. His first was in 1990 for the Finnish band Disgrace, while his most famous is probably the one done for the Norwegian Black Metal band Emperor. Since then, although largely known for his Metal logos, he has branched out into other genres, developing a logo for Rihanna in 2016.
Christophe Szpajdel – Butt Plug Babies
More recently, Szpajdel pushed his boundaries to create a logo for local punk band The Butt Plug Babies, which he describes as “the most eccentric and the most out of my comfort zone logo I have ever done, as it is far from my elegant logo, in fact, it’s also the most grotesque logo I’ve ever created.”
This was a challenge I feel he nobly rose to, and in fairness, despite the scandalously X-rated design, it has proven to be a hugely popular t-shirt design amongst their fans. Regarding his work, Christophe explained that “all my work is created freehand using pencils, pens, and liners, sometimes colours but predominantly black and white. I always begin with quick pencil sketches for the clients to choose from.”
Christophe Szpajdel – Butt Plug Babies – Wolves In The Throne Room
Christophe says his favourite logo is Wolves In The Throne Room. Christophe’s book, Archaic Modernism, the second volume of Lord Of The Logos, is still available on Heavy Music Artwork, though there are only a few copies left https://store.heavymusicartwork.com/.
The original Lord Of The Logos is now completely out of print, with no re-run planned.
Devon Open Studios 2024
You can find out more about Leadworks at their website.
The Devon Open Studios lineup and more information can be found at devonartistnetwork.co.uk/devon-open-studios-2024
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Plymouth Hosts Devon Open Studios: A Fusion Of Art And Music first appeared on
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