Long-time zombie artist has his first exhibit at the Art Galley of Sudbury

Sudbury zombie artist has first AGS exhibit For the first time, the Art Gallery of Sudbury is hosting an exhibit of the work of well-known Sudbury artist Rob Sacchetto.

Sudbury artist Rob Sacchetto has his first art gallery exhibit in Sudbury -- and it’s timely, given we’re in spooky season.

Well-known for his zombie portraits, Sacchetto said he was "flabbergasted" when the Art Gallery of Sudbury approached him about showing his work in an exhibit.

Now, a small portion of his artwork is part of the Faces of Decay exhibit at the site on Elgin Street.

"You really see the detailed texture and even how things are done because I’m a pretty messy artist and I think a lot of people sort of see images online constantly and everything is so polished, computer-generated and all that stuff," Sacchetto said.

"I use traditional materials and you can really tell. Like, I use real pigment, paint, pen and ink, paper -- all that stuff."

He has been making a living as a decay artist since 2006. Sacchetto attends fan conventions, hosts a YouTube channel and posts a Zombie picture daily on his website.

"You could turn anything into like a zombie or something decayed. I love decayed nature," he said.

"I love just that texture, that feeling -- it’s just endless."

Demetra Christakos, the curator and director of the Art Gallery of Sudbury, had the difficult task of narrowing down which pieces went into the exhibit. There was a specific set of portraits that she said blew her away.

"They were, in the end, more compelling, given that we had to select down to a small footprint and I didn’t want to leave them silent," Christakos said.

"You can hear them scream, that’s for sure, when you come into the space."

She advises that the artwork in the exhibit is not for children. There is an advisory at the door of the Elgin Street gallery.

Sacchetto said Halloween is a busy time for him and showcasing his art, admitting that sometimes he double-books himself for events.

He will be at the opening reception for his exhibit Oct. 26 from 1-4 p.m. to "field questions and talk art."

Faces of Decay will remain at the Art Gallery of Sudbury’s Elgin Street site until Nov. 16.