Mission Statement

My goal is to exceed all expectations placed on me while continuing to grow as an artist, maintain my audience and reach new markets.

About

Born in May 22, 1976, currently based in Akron, Ohio, owner of art and clothing company Thirteenth Floor, self-taught contemporary artist Billy Ludwig is best known for re-creating history with his SWvsWWII (Star Wars vs. WWII) series. From photo manipulation to guerrilla marketing inspired mixed media pieces, Ludwig’s work revolves around pop culture and science fiction themes conjuring a diverse following. His digital work has a creepy romantic aura while his mixed media pieces highlight the beauty of destruction. Billy’s mixed media work is heavily influenced by pop art, guerrilla marketing, street art and incorporate signature embellishments with various information about the subject - significant numbers, latitude/longitudes, quotes and more. The devil is in the details.

In recent years, a large focus has been placed on Billy Ludwig’s mixed media work primarily featuring pop culture icons such as David Bowie, Audrey Hepburn, Sid Vicious and more. These pieces are heavily influenced by pop art, guerrilla marketing, street art and incorporate signature embellishments with various information about the subject - significant numbers, latitude/longitudes, quotes and more. The devil is in the details.

Exhibitions

    Solo Shows:
    •    Skull & Bones - Cyrus Custom Framing & Art Gallery - Canton - 2023   

•    Fever - Thursday’s Lounge - Akron - 2019

    •    Moondust - Thirteenth Floor - Akron - 2019

•    Print and Press - Canton (in-store appearance)

•    Hazel’s Heroes Comics and more - N. Canton (in-store appearance)

•    Nightmares - Thirteenth Floor - Massillon - 2011

  Art Fairs:
•  The Other Art Fair - Brooklyn - 2023

    •  The Other Art Fair - Chicago - 2023

    •  The Other Art Fair - Dallas - 2022

Group Shows: 

•  In the Paint - The Local Gallery - Toronto - 2024

•    In the Air (Presented by SLAM Magazine) - The Local Gallery - NYC - 2024

•    No.15 Anniversary Show - Parlor Gallery - Asbury Park - 2024

•    Emerging to Established - Krause Gallery - Manhattan - 2024

•    Emerging to Established - Krause Gallery - Manhattan - 2023

• Skull & Bones - Cyrus Custom Framing & Art Gallery - Canton - 2023

• Punks Not Dead - Rising Gallery - Denver - 2023

•   Strange Magic - Canton - 2022

•  Turn and Face the Strange: A Visual Celebration of David Bowie - Canton - 2021

•    Akron-Canton Airport Exhibit - 2012

• Stark County Artists Exhibition - Massillon Museum of Art (Received 2nd Place) - 2011

•    Nine Inch Nails film screening - Massillon - 2009

• Stark ARThology - Canton Museum of Art - 2010

    •    Gravediggers’ Ball - Canton - 2005 - 2015

•    Damned Show - Tangent Gallery - Detroit - 2010, 2011

    •    Doubting Thomas Gallery - Tremont/Cleveland - 2010

    •    Evil Ohio - Breakneck Gallery - Cleveland - 2011 - 2013

    •    Studio 2091 - Akron - 2013

    •    Second April - Canton - 2015

    •    Art Bomb Tattoo - Massillon - 2011

• Downtown Massillon Street Art - 2009

    •    Art is Alive - Canton - 2009

Events

• New York Comic Con - NYC - 2014 - 2022

• C2E2 - Chicago - 2015 - 2022

• Emerald City Comicon - Seattle - 2016 - 2019

• Okinawa Comic Con - Japan - 2018

• Florida Supercon - Miami - 2016, 2018 - 2019

• Fan Expo Canada - Toronto - 2018 - 2019

• Puerto Rico Comic Con - San Juan - 2015 - 2019

• Motor City Comic Con - Detroit - 2014 - 2022

• Awesome Con - Washington D.C. - 2021 - 2022

• Fan Expo Boston - Boston - 2018 - 2019

• Fan X - Salt Lake City - 2014 - 2018

• Oddities & Curiosities Expo - Detroit - 2019

• Oddities & Curiosities Expo - Chicago - 2019

• Oddities & Curiosities Expo - Columbus - 2018 - 2019

• Megacon - Orlando - 2016 - 2018

• Chicago Comic Con - Chicago - 2013 - 2018

• Nashville Comic Con - Nashville - 2014

• Rose City Comic Con - Portland - 2017

• Comicpalloza - Houston - 2015 - 2016

• Dallas Fan Expo - Dallas - 2015 - 2017

• Tulsa Comic Con - Tulsa - 2015

• Minneapolis Comic Con - Minneapolis - 2016

• Days of the Dead - Chicago - 2015

• Days of the Dead - Indianapolis - 2015

• ScareFest - Lexington - 2014

• Louisville Comic Con - 2015 - 2015

• Fandom Fest - Louisville - 2014

• Fandemic - Sacramento - 2018

• Austin Comic Con - Austin - 2014 - 2015

• Steel City Comic Con - Monroeville

• Pittsburgh Comic Con - Pittsburgh

• Columbus Comic Con - Columbus

• New Orleans Comic Con - New Orleans

• Portland Comic Con - 2014 - 2015

• Calgary Fan Expo - Calgary - 2015

• Cleveland Comic Con - 2016 - 2019

• Walker Stalker - Atlanta - 2015 - 2017

• Tampa Bay Comic Con - Tampa - 2016 - 2017

• St. Louis Comic Con - St. Louis - 2015, 2018 - 2019

• Riot Fest - Chicago - 2017

• ID10T Fest - San Jose - 2017

• Sacramento Comic Con - Sacramento - 2015 - 2016

• HorrorHound - Cincinnati - 2013 - 2018

• Spooky Empire - Orlando - 2014 - 2015

• Flashback Weekend - 2018

• Monster-Mania - Cherry Hill - 2014 - 2018

• Bizarre Bazaar - Cleveland - 2013 - 2018

• Oddmall - Akron - 2010 - 2011

• Bizarre Bazaar (Theatre Bizarre) - Detroit - 2010

Publications

• Skull & Bones | The Artwork of Billy Ludwig - 2020

• Stark ARThology - 2010