Featured Artist: Leon Opio’s Pop Culture World

All around are things to tantalize my brain at every comic con I’ve been! Rarely am I able to afford buying myself anything to keep instead of to resell at Ogre’s Grove – until I came across Leon Opio’s Pop Culture World table at First State Comic Con last year. In addition to painting popular characters on canvas, he decoupages many household items, including electric outlet covers.

When readying our comic shop to open in 2017, my mom simply painted the old covers in the shop the same color as the molding to save us money since most of them would be hidden. But when I saw Leon had a Thor design, I had to have it for the outlet by the entrance. And when I found out he made custom light switch plates, I had to request Nightmare Before Christmas and Sailor Moon for my personal collections. The plan was for me to pick them up at our next shared show a couple months later, but when I couldn’t make it, he offered an affordable shipping option instead of waiting a few months more until our paths crossed again as he lives in northern Delaware.

Of course I loved both light switch covers, and we invited him to be a featured artist during our second-year-anniversary celebration in October this year. Leon started drawing in junior high school, and continued to do so later in life, motivated by his daughters, Alexis and Arlene, and his wife, Tabitha. It wasn’t until 2016 that he began exploring other mediums to create various pop culture decor, such as clocks, tables and coasters. Examples of his work can be found at opopworld.com, which also showcases his writings – he’s also a published author of adult horror, YA fantasy and children books!

His website is great but I recommend viewing his work in person – this Saturday, December 14, he’ll be vending at Ocean City Comic Comic Con, as will we. Come to Roland E. Powell Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Highway to see a world unlike anything you’ve ever seen!