Reach into your wildest curiosities, linger softly, and let them cage your dark side like a quiet beast amongst the shadows, lurking beneath your bed. Join The Dark Art Emporium this weekend, where the wicked wonders of Vince Locke, Ryan Bartlett & Brian Mercer will rock your imagination into oblivion. Abound with macabre narratives and nightmare visions, each collection casts a mesmerizing unrest that’s too good to miss.
March is officially Metal-as-Fuck here at the ol’ DAE gallery!
Vince Locke 
Brian Mercer 
Ryan Bartlett
If you’re looking to add to your budding art collection be sure to view all available artworks by visiting the The Dark Art Emporium online store! If you haven’t discovered The Art Pit DAE Podcast, now’s the time. The Jeremys (as in Jeremy Schott – Owner and Jeremy Cross – Assistant Director) discuss all things art, music, movies, and so much more. You can also stream episodes using Soundcloud via The Dark Art Emporium website or subscribe to their YouTube channel to stay updated.
Vince Locke, Ryan Bartlett & Brian Mercer
Virtual Opening Reception: Saturday, March 13, 2021
Join DAE on Facebook Live at 7pm (Pacific) for the reception with all three artists
The Dark Art Emporium
121 W. 4th Street, Long Beach, California 90802
Located in Downtown Long Beach within The 4th Horseman
For additional information and purchase availability please contact: Jeremy@darkartemporium.com
The Dark Art Emporium Press // We have brought together the twisted talents of Vince Locke, Ryan Bartlett & Brian Mercer, 3 artists who have a long history of working with Metal bands as cover artists and merch illustrators as well as doing the fine art we are stoked to showcase here. These works scream with a visceral intensity that will be resonating deep in your skull long after you’ve left the venue.
Vince Locke
Vince Locke has been creating published illustrative art for over 30 years. His portfolio includes countless comic books and graphic novels (including Deadworld, Sandman), all album and merchandising art for world famous death metal band Cannibal Corpse, numerous role-playing game book illustrations (White Wolf, TSR, and Wizards of the Coast), book and magazine illustrations (2000 A.D.), and artwork for the animated show Aqua Teen Hunger Force. He is also well-known for his horror themed fine art.
Brian Mercer
Brian Mercer is an illustrator working in the New Jersey/Philadelphia area who is continuing to evolve while immersed in his work. He has created art for a myriad of clients in the music and entertainment industry dating as far back as 2002 while searching out his own visual interests. Flirting with stark realities and anchored in the subconscious he looks to make images that a viewer can live and evolve with. Some of the impressive and notable clients that Brian has produced work for include bands the likes of Black Tusk, Lamb of God, Soundgarden & Swans.
Ryan Bartlett
“I aim to bring the viewer into an alternate, yet familiar reality. In my view this reality existed before I put any charcoal on the paper. When these characters materialize out of the charcoal dust I feel like I am shining a light and offering a brief glimpse into whatever dark corner they inhabit in this preexisting reality.
I’ve come to the realization that I’m likely drawn to this grotesque merging of man (and woman) and machine due to fear of my own mortality as well as fear of losing the ones I love and care about. Behind the ramshackle hardware and glowing eyes there’s hope for a happy ending – hope that we can improve ourselves before it’s too late. As it turns out the way in which I process these ideas and feelings results in portraits of bizarre individuals you would encounter at an underground metal show in a post-singularity post-apocalypse.”
