Meet The Artists And Explore Heavy-Inspired Art At Devon Open Studios

This year’s annual Devon Open Studios exhibition will be held at Leadworks on Rendle Street Plymouth between 6th and 28th September 2024. There is plenty of time to pop down and check out, firsthand, this group of creatives work and even have a chat with one or two of them.

The exhibitors at this event include Christophe Szpajdel, Lord Of The Logos, who is also the group leader/ coordinator this year. Here, we look at more of the heavy-inspired exhibitors. You can read more about Christophe and the DOS here.

Gosia Blicka

One of the guest exhibitors is Gosia Blicka, a graduate of the Warsaw School of Photography and a member of the Association of Polish Art Photographers and the Gdańsk Photographic Society.

Gosia is an award-winning photographer par excellence whose photograph in the final exhibition of the international Jazz World Photo competition (Czech Republic) and two post-competition exhibitions at the Centre for Contemporary Art in Toruń, resulted in placing her photo on the cover of the music magazine Heavy Metal Pages.

Some of the Metal icons she has captured in her lens, achieving stunning results, are Kim Bendix Petersen, better known as King Diamond, Mikael Wikström (Mercyful Fate), Rob Halford and Richie Faulkner (Judas Priest), Aðalbjörn Tryggvason (Sólstafir), James La Brie (Dream Theater).

Her creative interests are inspired by “the metaphorical depictions of everyday life, illustrating the flow of thoughts, asking questions with the help of the photographic process.”

Gosia is a supporter of the theory of the need for a dynamic process of creation through tense photo-constellations, which, as a collection of diverse experiences, despite differences in form, result from each other and are their natural consequence.

Her work also includes some unique and creative portrait work, a unique collection of reminiscences taken with a camera created in Tokyo by the Japanese constructor Haruhis Terasaki, a collection of thought-provoking 35 mm work and a fascinating collection of projects. Gosia will be exhibiting black and white artworks based on reminiscences, depression, and dark art. Gosia Bilicka Photography (gosia-bilicka.com).

Sam Astaroth

Guest performer Toronto-based Sam Astaroth is guaranteed to bring an engagingly dark atmosphere to the event. An independent multi-dimensional artist and musician, the themes of his work focus on personal empowerment, social commentary and freedom of expression.

Astaroth has ten years of experience working in the entertainment industry as an independent multi-genre solo artist. His music diabolically infuses elements of Phonk and Trap Metal with sporadic Industrial and Gothic undertones, overlaid with Scream Rap and blackened Deathcore vocals, creating his unique brand of sound which he calls Demoncore.

Influenced by a very broad range of artists (Ghostemane, Corpse, Scarlxrd to $uicideboy$, Ho99o9, Ic3peak to Kim Dracula, Slipknot and Mayhem), he has released over seventy-five songs in a variety of musical genres, some of which included collaborating with musicians from North America, United Kingdom, Australia, Asia, South America and Europe.

He has performed over sixty shows all over Ontario, Montreal, Vancouver, New Mexico, Texas and Los Angeles and won the Global Metal Apocalypse award in 2019 as Breakthrough North and Central American Metal Band with Astaroth Incarnate (community voted).

Astaroth also works as a voice actor for Monster Factory, a vocal teacher, teaching the techniques of sustainably learning and performing extreme vocals and is a media host for Banger films via YouTube.

Charlotte from Dream Bleed Arts

Charlotte from Dream Bleed Arts is an Oil Painter of the Dark Arts. A Toronto-based artist and partner of Sam Astaroth says that her “paintings incorporate dark surrealism, horror, macabre, and sometimes occult themes. There’s also a balance to this imagery. Bright colours or hopeful messages of strength and transformation. To communicate there is darkness in beauty and beauty in darkness. I’m heavily influenced by H.R. Giger and Zdzisław Beksiński, as well as the Extreme Metal music scene.”

Charlotte told MetalTalk she became involved with art when asked to design the album artwork for her friend’s band Aenigma. “I was digital painting,” she says, “and hadn’t yet discovered oil painting. Regardless, I poured my soul into that project, and it affirmed to me that I needed to pursue creating artwork for bands. Later, I created oil paintings for two Sam Astaroth songs: Insidious and Toe Tags.”

“I decided to establish my artwork as a business and desired a logo. Christophe Szpajdel, known as The Lord of Logos, is iconic in the Extreme Metal scene and has created classic logos for bands such as Emperor.  Not only did Christophe create an absolutely gorgeous logo for me, he also enjoyed my artwork and invited me to participate with him in the Devon Open Studios exhibition this September.”

Remy – DS Graphics

Another guest exhibitor is Remy from DS Graphics. Hailing from the heart of the Midwestern United States, Remy is an artist whose work delves into the realms of horror and the macabre. His unique and clean style is heavily inspired by old comic book covers and the dark themes of Heavy Metal music. Metal is a genre he has been passionate about since the age of twelve, inspiring him to eventually try his hand at Metal logos.

His journey into the world of art began with his fascination for the eerie and the unsettling, drawing inspiration from the haunting melodies and powerful lyrics of his favourite Metal bands. Over the years, he has not only honed his artistic skills but also dabbled in the music scene doing logos and album art, then contributing to the horror community in the form of enamel pin designs reflecting popular horror movie icons of then and now.

His musical inspirations are bands such as Slayer, Death, King Diamond, Exodus, and Overkill, among many others, especially those within the realm of symphonic Black Metal. His art inspirations include HR Giger, Beksinski, BORIS, Frazetta, and also Christophe Szpajdel. Remy’s work can also be viewed on Instagram as @deathstyle_graphics.

Sam Goodwin

Closer to home is exhibitor Sam Goodwin, who told me that “my artwork is quite inspired by DIY punk aesthetics and ethos. I’ve worked with some punk and Metal bands previously for artwork and merch designs.”

Goodwin will be exhibiting a collection of very striking black and white etched works based on the technique of Linocut, first developed in the mid-1800’s.

Helen Ely

Another fairly local artist is exhibiting DOS member Helen Ely, a Cornish based artist who creates imaginary scenes in oils. “I am self-taught,” Helen told MetalTalk, “and have been painting for around twelve years now. I take inspiration from nature and love cloud formations and use this inspiration to create my pieces.”

“My work has been exhibited alongside Christophe Szpajdel many times and I also was included in the DOS catalogue in 2022 for the Tavistock Wharf exhibition. I am exhibiting on 27th July in St Austell with the Pop-Up Art Group.”

Although Helen’s work has not yet been used as music artwork, having seen her exhibit, I can say that much of it would be very fitting as atmospheric Doom or even as cover work for a nature-inspired Black Metal band. So, if there are any bands looking for a superlative piece of dark nature or landscape art, Helen could be just the person you are looking for to help you out. I recommend you go check out her work.

Bluebird

Devon-based DOS member Amber is known in the art world as Bluebird. Her work reflects a deep connection to nature and the universe. Residing in Exeter, Bluebird’s artistic journey is intertwined with a spiritual path, which fuels creativity and guides her intuitive process.

Currently focusing on painting, Bluebird’s art is influenced by meditation and guided by intuition throughout the creative process. Each piece evolves organically, revealing deeper meanings over time, even to the artist herself. This dynamic interaction between creation and insight allows for continuous exploration and personal growth. Bluebird’s work invites viewers to connect personally, trusting their intuition to find meanings within each piece.

Inspired by the natural world and a deep connection with the universe, Bluebird’s creations aim to spread joy, positivity, and love. While deeply personal, Bluebird’s art resonates with broader themes, making it accessible and meaningful to a diverse audience.

Viewers are encouraged to find their own connections and insights, discovering how each painting can offer a unique and uplifting experience. Her work can also be viewed on her Instagram Artist_Bluebird.

Other DOS members exhibiting will be May Allerfeldt, who has trees and a naturalist approach, artist Terry Maughanm, as well as enlightened calligrapher Ruth Sutherland. Plymouth-based artist Jo Jo James brings you a touch of figurative and narrative art.

Last but not least, someone whose role in the event should not be underestimated is Adrian Rodriguez, who designed the flyer. He has worked on collaborations with Devon Open Studios and Christophe Szpajdel for some years and is also the singer and guitarist in the Spanish rock band from the city of Mar del Plata called Mar (meaning sea in Spanish).

Mar recently released their first single, Ser Cruel (Being Cruel), and Christophe is their Executive Producer.

Devon Open Studios 2024

The Devon Open Studios exhibition runs for most of September so there’s plenty of time to pop down and check out, first hand, this group of creatives work and even have a chat with one or two of them. 

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.

Plymouth Hosts Devon Open Studios: A Fusion Of Art And Music

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