“I do the paintings for Halloween. The best is monster blood, because monsters are killing people. I do monsters. I make paintings for Halloween. I am the director of the movie about Halloween. I do it myself. I have a lot of work to do.” – DMS

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David Schmuckler has a passion for horror that runs deep in all the work he makes. A seven hour track of spooky Halloween sounds often accompanies him in his workspace, where he designs and creates a myriad of bizarre characters. He often slips into the characters he creates, and in sculptural work uses his own body as a mold for his characters.

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In large format compositions with bold design elements, Schmuckler’s paintings and drawings convey an appreciation for his characters through a combination of reverence and satire. With an aesthetic that captures elements of mass-market horror and neo-expressionism, Schmuckler’s work is unique, accessible, and thought-provoking.

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Schmuckler is currently focused on the character of Krampus, an evil Christmas spirit with horns and a beard.

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Schmuckler’s work has been selected for a number of exhibitions in and around the Philadelphia area, including at the Millard Gallery at Woodmere Art Museum, Hook&Loop, Philadelphia EyeWorks, Green Line, The Philadelphia Foundation, and University City Arts League, among others. In February of 2024, Schmuckler presented his multisensory performance, LOVE IS DEAD: A SPOOKY EXPERIENCE at Summertime Gallery in Brooklyn, New York. Schmuckler’s work was featured at the Outsider Art Fair in New York in 2018, 2019, and 2025.

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Check out one of David's projects, "THE SHAPE THAT KILLS (2022)" here: https://www.centerforcreativeworks.org/david-schmuckler-video

 

Shop David’s work HERE!