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Svengoolie Fan Becomes Horror Art Sensation
20 Sep
Summary
- Graphic design professor's art show features macabre creations.
- Svengoolie inspired his lifelong fascination with monsters.
- Masks are displayed as art, not always for wearing.
Peter Infelise, a graphic design professor at Elgin Community College, is showcasing his macabre art in "Electric Horror: The Art and Design of Peter Infelise." His fascination began on July 28, 1982, watching Svengoolie, leading to a career in monster-inspired art. Infelise started sculpting masks in 1995 after a ceramics class project, soon becoming a freelancer and establishing his studio, The Devil's Workshop, in Berwyn.
His artistic journey includes creating prosthetic parts for Universal Studios Florida and establishing an early mask website. Infelise's work has gained significant attention through The Devil's Workshop Instagram, leading to collaborations with studios and his masks appearing in Rob Zombie's "The Munsters" in 2022. He earned a master's degree in fine arts from Academy of Art University in 2009.
Infelise's creations often serve as display art rather than wearable pieces, embodying the primal nature of masks. His art has connected him with music idols, including Kirk Hammett of Metallica and Slash of Guns N' Roses, who have featured his work. He plans to attend Nightmare on Chicago Street on October 17th to meet his childhood inspiration, Svengoolie.
