rtist Mark Riddick, reputable illustrator for the underground death metal music scene, launched his freelance career as a teenager in 1991 when he began illustrating logos, demo cassette covers, 7” EP record covers, and filler artwork for cut & paste underground death metal fanzines, bands, and record labels worldwide. In 1998, Riddick earned his undergraduate degree in Fine Arts from Greensboro College in North Carolina. Since finishing college, Riddick has pursued his freelance career by continuing to illustrate for underground and popular metal bands alike. Riddick’s artwork has been published by hundreds of metal bands as wide-ranging as Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, Arsis, Autopsy, Baby Metal, Behemoth, Bloodbath, Carnifex, Deceased, Dethklok, Dragonforce, Dying Fetus, Exodus, Frozen Soul, Gatecreeper, Grave, Hirax, Horrendous, Incantation, Internal Bleeding, Lamb of God, Megadeth, Morbid Angel, Mortician, Mystifier, Nunslaughter, Pestilence, Revel in Flesh, Revocation, Rotting Christ, Sanguisugabogg, Skeletal Remains, Skullfist, Slipknot, Suffocation, The Black Dahlia Murder, Thy Art Is Murder, Torture Killer, Varathron, Warbringer, and Worm, etc.

Outside of the metal music scene, Riddick has completed work for pop, hip-hop, and electronic music artists including Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Pusha-T, City Morgue, Dieselboy, and Kayzo. In addition, Riddick’s talent has also been solicited by other media outlets such as television: “Metalocalypse” (Adult Swim), “Ghost Adventures,” (Travel Channel), “Law & Order” (NBC), and “Stan Against Evil” (IFC); fashion brands: Anti Denim, Born a Bad Seed, Cold Mind, Cvrsed, Darc Sport, Death Saves, Disturbia, Dolls Kill, Hiro, Hybrid Legacy, Jawbreaker, Lip Service, Mason Clothing, Raised By Wolves, Rebel8, Rideau, Spencer’s Gifts, Stay Cold, The Hundreds, Weird Clothing; gaming brands: Dungeoneer Games & Simulations, Magic the Gathering, IllFonic, and Warp Games; and food/beverage brands: 3Floyds, Adroit Theory, Brash, Liquid Death, Magnanimous, Pabst Blue Ribbon, The Keep Downtown, and Uncle Chainsaw’s Hot Sauce.

Furthermore, Riddick has participated in numerous gallery exhibits domestically and overseas and has published several books: “Logos from Hell,” a 600-page book about extreme metal logos with over thirty contributing artists, as well as “Compendium of Death” showcasing artwork between 1991-2011 and “Morbid Visions” showcasing artwork between 2012-2016. Riddick’s work has been featured in a variety of art/culture books and celebrated heavy metal publications like Cvlt Nation, D.O.A., Hail Yourself, Kerrang!, Kvlt, Legacy, Metal Hammer, Metalegion, Metal Maniacs, Metal Sucks, Nefarious Realm, Noxious Ruin, Pit, Planet Rock, Revolver, Rock Hard, Terrorizer, This Is Metal, Zero Tolerance, etc.; as well as popular culture publications like Bandcamp, Complex, Dazed, Fangoria, Highsnobiety, Joia, Nylon, Rolling Stone, Vice, What Youth, and Wired. Although unique illustration opportunities continue to present themselves, Riddick stays committed to his distinct and gruesome black and white illustrative approach and fervent dedication to underground death metal music.