We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cory Cowley . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cory below.

Cory , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

The biggest risk I’ve taken is exactly what I do now–extreme horror art.

When I first decided to take the risk of doing what I do now, I knew the implications it held. The horror and art world had not seen something of quite the caliber as my work. The minute that I started using my blood, bodily fluids, and incorporating decaying matter and organs, it was a question of, “how exactly will this play out?”

At first, people were very apprehensive about what I did. The responses were an amalgamation of disgust, shock, terror, and questioning my mental capacity. I knew it would happen, but the response was exactly what I was going for. Nothing I do I expect people to feel overjoyed, but is anything in true horror pretty?

In July of 2020, my risk paid off. Kjetil Manheim, the founder of the black metal band, Mayhem, reached out to me via e-mail. At first, I thought it was a prank. Lo and behold, it turned out that it was very much real, and that her very much wanted me to star in his music video “It Burns” for his band Order. The video went on to be a hit, and from there, Kjetil asked me to travel to Norway to perform with Order at Inferno Festival.

I was a wee-bit nervous about bringing my art to European audiences. I wasn’t sure how it would be perceived, nor did I think I would be terrifying enough at times. As soon as the song “Pneuma II” came on, I made my way onto the stage and terrified the crowd. The local magazines coined me as the “The Witch.” With Inferno Festival giving some exposure, I ended up landing two roles in films entitled, “The Virginia Bitches” and “How the Night Perceives Them;” both films are directed by Scott B. Hansen, and include a HUGE ensemble of metal musicians and Bill Moseley (House of 1000 Corpses, Devil’s Rejects).

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I grew up in a small family that encompassed only my mom and sister. I was raised by my mother in Hendersonville, TN, that of which is where I was born and raised. I was a bit of an eccentric kid who stayed primarily to myself. Since my mom was a single parent and served as dual parents, she taught me to be a very independent, authentic individual, whilst also teaching me about morals and the usual lessons most parents do. My absence of friends and frequent bullying for being the “odd” kid led me to find solace in horror movies. Growing up, my first movie was Hellraiser, and I knew right then and there that I had fallen in love with the macabre.

Once I had become a little bit older, I started writing short stories and creating monsters and characters that were scary. From my writing, I slowly developed into painting, drawing, and at times illustrations–all of which consisted of dark art and horror. My origins shaped the person I am today, and since I was a kid, I never forget where I came from, and I always am thankful for the background I had. Having a rough childhood isn’t ideal, but when you have a mom who supports you from the get go–anything is possible, and I wouldn’t be here today if she didn’t push me to succeed.

Like I said before, horror has always been a part of my life. After watching Hellraiser for the first time, I wanted to start creating creatures that were terrifying. I used to illustrate my characters and pretend like I was them. I would paint myself and start sketching out drawings that were indescribable, but to me–they made perfect sense. Creating through artistic avenues was slowly starting to infect my life in the best possible way, and it certainly helped hone my skills. Now, at 32, I’ve evolved.

The small girl inside me resides within this carapace, only, I’m now able to create monsters through SFX, makeup, and bring them to life through film and music. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed running the risk of being a controversial figure in the dark art/horror community, and no matter what it takes, I’m ready to combat the status quo at full-force.

By profession, I’m an artist; by all rights, I’m a mix of professional entertainer, author, SFX artist, and artist. My work has been used in a myriad of different music videos for bands such as: Amenorrhea, Utterscorn, Aiwass, Vale of Pnath, Order, Hellsgate, and some TBA names. My artwork has been featured as the cover for the band Heads for the Dead–set for release sometime later in the year; I also do professional stage performances…utilizing my roots in theatre and acting. Since I performed in Norway, Kristoff Bathory of Dawn of Ashes has asked me to perform with the band in July. I suppose, I’m a Jill-of-all trades in terms of what I do, but I try my hardest to put my hands in anything that forces me to challenge human thinking force people to look at what’s in front of them.

What sets me apart from my counterparts is my bravery in terms of content. Since I use organic material, I’ve done artwork that’s forced me into eating raw organs, consuming my blood, licking the ground, toilets, etc… Is if for everyone? Absolutely not. Do people think what I do is deemed insane? Most definitely. However, the purpose of what I do is exactly that–to incite an emotion that is not commonly felt. My craft is the epitome of human life: a celebration, admiration, and rejoicing of life, but a conscious awareness of insanity, death, and darkness. There are no limits; there are no boundaries.

It may seem asinine in comparison to my artwork, but I think I’m most proud of publishing my two books, Bending Reality and Dissention. I took up creative writing and storytelling before art, and I think publishing my first book was a huge hurdle for me. I was determined to write that book and tell a story that was loosely based on my upbringing and life–which the contents of that book are, in fact, a loose recount.

In addition to publishing my two books, filing for my LLC two years ago and founding C.D.C. Works was a HUGE. I became a small business owner and it was my chance to finally operate as a legal entity. My intention is to create awareness of underground and indie creatives who are missed or overshot by mainstream media. I’ve always believed in everyone getting a fair chance; hard work, dedication, and success should be predicated on this instead of fame–but sadly, many great talents are not given a chance due to this. C.D.C. Works will be the antithetical clapback.

What I want people to know most of all about what I do, is that authenticity is the most important trait you can possess. My work is quite literally an authentic view of how I perceive humanity, human nature and life; as I noted, it’s not for everyone, but I will not bend my knee and acquiesce to suit anyone’s particular palate. When you go into the world of Cory DeAn Cowley, I want my fans to know that though it’s at times a very dark place, it’s also a place where there is zero tolerance for judgment, prejudice, or hate. As much as I celebrate death, I celebrate life in the same breath, and all aspects of life are to be praised and enjoyed each and every day. Live every day as your last, because life is a very short and precious gift.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

One of the biggest misconceptions about what I do, is that I am pro-self-harm and pro-suicide. To be blunt, that’s bullshit.

My work in all its entirety is a literal celebration of human life. The dark, macabre, grotesque themes exist, yes, but if you look deeper than the surface, you’ll find that I truly love being human.

Our own blood and body yields some of the most beautiful constructs in life. Our very being is an art form—so, why not use our very gifts and create art? As someone who struggles with OCD/GAD…I know the difficulties of living with such a detrimental neurosis. I’ve lost many friends and family to suicide through mental ailments, and when people accuse me of supplying that urge to harm—it infuriates me.

I’m a staunch advocate for mental health awareness, and I believe that dark art has the potential to comfort people who are struggling with dark thoughts. In life, I think humans find solace in things that are taboo or forbidden…such as what I do, and I think that allows misfits to feel like they fit in. If people take my art and use it as a place to feel accepted, that’s awesome, and I support it 100%.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

First and foremost, stop cancelling and censoring artistry.

Art is not always intended to be pretty or satisfying; it’s extremely ignorant to assume that, and I think there needs to be less judgment and more acceptance.

Social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram are the biggest perpetrators in cancelling some of the most talented artists of our area, all because it doesn’t suit someone’s ideals.

Not everything is going to be of a particular liking, but I don’t believe that artists should be punished for it. We need different outlets to expand and grow, but with censorship and cancel culture on the rise—it’s impossible to gain an audience.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.corydeancowley.com
• Instagram: www.Instagram.com/foliumdiscognitum2
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/foliumdiscognitum2
• Twitter: www.Twitter.com/CDC_Works
• Youtube: www.YouTube.com/cdcworks
• Other: www.TikTok.com/cdcworks

Image Credits
Inferno Festival Norways shots courtesy of Hans Martin Høydahl.