Artist Billy Ludwig mixes 'Star Wars,' WWII, Audrey Hepburn, UFOs in Canton solo show

Billy Ludwig is always thinking about his next art piece.

While in the studio or driving, pop culture images mix and meld and flood his mind. "Star Wars." World War II. Elvis. David Bowie. Audrey Hepburn. Hedy Lamarr. Sophia Loren. Abstract imagery, too.

"I'm always working on things," the 1994 Jackson High School graduate said. "Even when I can't work on things, my brain is always going."

Abstract art is a new medium for Ludwig, who is known for his digital and mixed media creations that incorporate pop culture imagery. "Stars Wars" stormtroopers on horseback. Space ships zooming over the ocean in a World War II battle. Striking portraits of rock stars and vintage actresses in black and white.

Discussing his artwork, the Jackson Township-based creator explained what drives and inspires his pieces.

"It's a compilation of going to art museums and art fairs ... while I've been traveling all these years," he said of the inspiration for his foray into abstract paintings. "I guess I've been digesting all the things that stand out to me."

Ludwig's eclectic mix of artwork will be on display at his "Skull & Bones" solo exhibition, which opens at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Cyrus Custom Framing & Art Gallery, 2645 Cleveland Ave. NW. The exhibition will continue during gallery hours through Sept. 7.

Cyrus gallery is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The business is closed the first Saturday of the month and on Sundays.

From music to art

This marks Ludwig's first solo exhibition since 2019.

"I've always done art since I was a child," said the 47-year-old self-taught artist. "I would say probably for the better part of my late teens through probably mid thirties to almost my late thirties, my main focus was music, but I was still trying to move forward with art."

Ludwig pulled back on his rock band pursuits around 2010 when he opened his former Thirteenth Floor art gallery in downtown Canton.

Princess Leia, Frank Sinatra, Andy Warhol, Sharon Tate

More than 100 art pieces will be featured in "Skull & Bones," including the unveiling of his first abstract paintings. The show also will feature more than 40 mixed media works, including a new Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie portrait.

Pop culture figures will be featured in some of his work, including Princess Leia, Frank Sinatra, Andy Warhol, Sharon Tate and Dorothy from the "The Wizard of Oz."

Abstract paintings used to befuddle Ludwig, however. He didn't understand the fuss or point, and why some pieces sold for millions of dollars at auctions.

But his perspective changed after studying and experimenting with the art form.

"People might look at abstract work like, 'I can do that,' and maybe you can, but I think for abstract art to work ... for me, especially, it's about composition, and the overall design and how your eye works," Ludwig said. "But I think abstract work, in general, there needs to be consistency and confidence in the markings and what you're doing."

"As fun as it is to work with all the pop culture things I do, whether it's 'Star Wars,' David Bowie, Elvis and Audrey Hepburn, it's kind of nice to be free and just kind of do whatever I want, and I really, really enjoy it."

When razors, rubber cement and scribbles become art

Ludwig's styles vary. Some pieces are purely digital using photo manipulation. Guerrilla and street marketing also inspire his work.

Mixed media has been a specialty. Printed artwork is sometimes nailed to wood, all the layering, patchwork, distress and embellishments done by hand. Pencil, colored pencil, paint markers, graffiti markers and spray paint are also featured.

Early mixed media pieces began experimentally, as a creative outlet.

"I was just angry ... and if there was a damaged print, I would practice my signature sort of doodle or draw on prints that were damaged ... and I kind of enjoyed drawing on my own artwork and destroying it, to be honest," Ludwig said.

"That's where mixed media started. I rubber cemented it, nailed it down ... distressed it .... slashing it with razors, saturating it with water and drawing on it."

Since 2013, Ludwig has traveled to as many as 20 comic book conventions per year to sell his art.

Among his most popular work is the "Star Wars" vs. WWII series, where imagery from the iconic science fiction movie franchise is merged with historic battle scenes.

Ludwig's work has been shipped to more than 30 countries through his online-based Thirteenth Floor art and clothing company.

In 2018, Ludwig accepted an invite by the United States Marine Corps to show his work at an event on their base in Okinawa, Japan.

Customers and collectors of his work have included actors and musicians. Among them are the late Carrie Fisher of "Star Wars," Norman Reedus of "The Walking Dead" and John Dolmayan of the band System of a Down.

But Ludwig is reducing his convention appearances. "My focus has been more so on doing art fairs and working with art galleries and pushing more of my mixed media and abstract work," he said.

Ludwig-designed clothing also will be for sale at the art show.

Diving into abstract art for the first time

Signatures of Ludwig's mixed media art have carried over to abstract works, including paint drips, markings, embellishments and scribbles that imply a sense of chaos.

Sometimes he isn't finished with an abstract painting until he goes over it four or five times. "I like what I did, but I feel I can do more," he said. "And then I painted over that and painted over that and painted over that before it got where it was.

"With the abstract work, I'm definitely still in an experimentation phase."

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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton artist Billy Ludwig features Star Wars, WWII in solo art show