Artist Spotlight - Christophe Szpajdel — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

Biography

Christophe Szpajdel was born on September 29, 1970, in Gembloux, Belgium, and grew up in Louvain-la-Neuve. He studied Agriculture at the Université Catholique de Louvain, earning a degree in forestry engineering. From an early age, Christophe developed a keen interest in Heavy Metal logos, and this passion soon turned into his vocation. His mobility has allowed him to travel extensively for his work.

Devon Open Studios digital poster, designed by Adrian Rodriguez

Throughout his travels, Christophe has drawn inspiration from diverse cultures around the world, developing a range of artistic styles while collaborating with clients and establishing his reputation as one of the leading heavy metal logo artists.

NightHunt, 21 cm x 29.7 cm pen and ink on Paper, November 2024

His work first gained attention in the mid-1990s with iconic logos for bands like Emperor, Old Man's Child, Enthroned, Borknagar, Moonspell, and Desaster, among many others. Since then, he has made significant contributions to the extreme metal scene, creating logos for hundreds of bands, most of which are still in use today, even 20 years after their creation.

Notable bands he has worked with include Melechesh, Falkenbach, Aborted, Abigail Williams, Impiety, Behexen, Tsjuder, Lord Belial, and Wolves in the Throne Room.
In recent years, Christophe has begun to draw influence from an even wider array of artistic styles, enhancing his versatility and allowing him to reach a broader audience.

In 2010, he released a book titled "Lord of the Logos," which was followed by various exhibitions around the world, including in the USA, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Belgium, and the Netherlands. In 2016, Christophe completed logo designs for major figures in the music industry, including Rihanna and Metallica, as well as engaging in renowned projects that attracted new prospects to his clientele.

Alice Cooper, DeathStyle Graphics,2024, Digital

Artist Statement

We are a group of 12 artists exhibiting during the whole month of September, featuring the works of Terry Maughan (Evil Morris) and Remy Deathstyle Graphics, as well as linocut pieces by Natalia Nowacka and Sam Goodwin. You can also experience atmospheric artwork by Gosia Bilicka, Dream Bleed Arts, and Helen Ely. Spiritual creations by Christabel Angel and Amber Bluebird will be on display, alongside stunning natural beauty captured by May Allerfeldt

and exquisite calligraphy from internationally renowned artists Ruth Sutherland and last but not least Christophe Szpajdel, born on September 29, 1970, in Belgium to Polish parents, is an internationally acclaimed artist specialising in calligraphy, typography, lettering, and logo design. Over his impressive 35-year career, he has gained recognition for creating logos for various extreme metal bands, including Emperor, Enthroned, Impiety, and Moonspell, among others.

In recent years, Szpajdel has expanded his horizons, and one of his notable designs is the logo for Rihanna, completed in 2016. This logo has become widely associated with death metal aesthetics, largely because it is often cited as a prime example of such graphic styles.

www.lordofthelogos.com
www.instagram.com/christophe.szpajdel
www.facebook.com/christophe.szpajdel