Artist Biography

David C. King is a visual artist and filmmaker based in Michigan.

Originating from the Motor City, he spent his formative years in Tennessee before refining his skills in California. As a child, David was captivated by drawing, painting, sculpture, and filmmaking, filling his sketchbooks with fantastical creatures and story ideas.

Following his formal education at Ringling College of Art and Design, David continued short film production and painting in Northern California. Subsequently, he ventured into the realm of professional creature FX in Los Angeles, drawn by the interest in bringing wondrous beings to life on screen. However, he soon found himself disillusioned by the limitations of the industry, prompting a switch of gears.

Returning to Northern California, he began a rewarding 19-year career at Apple, where he immersed himself in user testing, product development, and content production. Despite his professional success, his passion for art never wavered. He continued to explore creative impulses through short films, paintings, and daily sketchbook practice in his downtime.

After retiring from Apple, David was drawn back to where his story began. Today, you will find him in Detroit, immersed in his latest phase of creative exploration. A chapter dedicated to art and driven by his lifelong fascination with the monstrous and the pursuit of personal artistic creations.

CV

Education
  • B.F.A. – Ringling College of Art & Design, Sarasota, FL
Group Exhibitions
  • 2013 PEN PAL PAINTING EXCHANGE – Brooklyn Art Library, Brooklyn, NY
  • 2013 COVER X COVER – The Cleaners, Portland, OR
  • 2012 LOWER POLK ART WALK – San Francisco, CA
  • 2010 HELL’S BELLE’S PINEWOOD DERBY – White Walls Gallery, San Francisco, CA
  • 2010 DOGS IN SCHOOL – Screaming Sky Gallery, Portland, OR
  • 2009 SFAI ACE DIEGO SUMMER EXHIBITION – Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco, CA
  • 2009 SFAI ACE DIEGO SPRING EXHIBITION – Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco, CA
  • 1993 RCAD SENIOR THESIS EXHIBITION – Ringling College of Art & Design, Sarasota, FL
Screenings
  • 2008 PICKLOCK – Dead Channels Film Festival, The Vortex Room, San Francisco, CA
Commissions
  • 2022 MOVIE PORTRAIT: SANDRA DEE, painting
  • 2021 HORROR HIGH: MISS GRINDSTAFF, painting
  • 2021 MOVIE PORTRAIT: RICHARD AYOADE, painting
  • 2008 MERCURY, painting
  • 1997 PENANCE, concept art
  • 1994 CONCEPTION I, painting
  • 1994 STILL-LIFE: BOUQUET, painting
  • 1993 TUNE IN FOR TERROR! – Trading Cards Illustrations – Monsterwax
  • 1992 MOVING MOTHER OUT – Book Cover Illustration – Florida Literary Foundation Press
  • 1992 WOMAN IN THE WINDOW – Book Cover Illustration – STARbooks Press
  • 1992 FEATURED ILLUSTRATIONS – The Scroll Magazine, Winter 1992 Issue
Film
  • 2023 EXQUISITE CORPSE (short film) – director/editor
  • 2010 THE FOLLOW (short film) – director/editor
  • 2007 PICKLOCK (short film) – writer/producer/director/cinematographer/editor/creature FX
  • 1997 WRONGFULLY ACCUSED – fabricating and painting
  • 1997 THE OUTER LIMITS (series) – fabricating and painting
  • 1997 SPECIES II (feature film) – fabricating and painting
  • 1997 PHANTOMS (feature film) – fabricating
  • 1997 BLUES BROTHERS 2000 (feature film) – painting
  • 1997 BREAST MEN (feature film) – life casting
  • 1997 GEORGIA LOTTERY (commercial) – sculpting, fabricating, and painting
  • 1997 VOLCANO RUN (feature film) – miniature building
  • 1996 THE PROPHECY II (feature film) – sculpting, painting, fabricating, and on-set makeup and practical FX
  • 1996 SOMETIMES THEY COME BACK… FOR MORE (feature film) – concept design
  • 1997 PROGENY (feature film) – concept design
  • 1997 MODERN VAMPIRES (feature film) – concept design
  • 1996 VITAL SIGNS (series) – fabricating, painting, and on-set practical FX supervision
  • 1996 FREAK – SILVERCHAIR (music video) – life casting and on-set makeup
  • 1996 CEMETERY – SILVERCHAIR (music video) – miniature building
  • 1996 TURBO: A POWER RANGERS MOVIE (feature film) – casting
  • 1996 WEIRD SCIENCE (series) – puppeteering, fabricating, sculpting, and painting
Career
  • 2022 – present / Lurtis K Studio, Visual Artist + Filmmaker. Detroit, MI
  • 2019 – 2022 / Lurtis K Studio, Visual Artist + Filmmaker. Los Angeles, CA
  • 2018 – 2019 / Apple Inc., Executive Producer – Apple TV+. Culver City, CA
  • 2013 – 2018 / Apple Inc., Senior Creative Producer – iTunes Extras. Cupertino, CA & Culver City, CA
  • 2010 – 2013 / Apple Inc., Interactive Producer – iTunes LPs & iBooks. Cupertino, CA
  • 2005 – 2016 / Lurtis K Studio, Visual Artist + Filmmaker. San Francisco, CA
  • 2004 – 2010 / Apple Inc., Software QA – Final Cut Pro. Cupertino, CA
  • 2001 – 2004 / Apple Inc., Software QA – iMovie and iPhoto. Cupertino, CA
  • 1997 / Steve Johnson’s XFX, Creature FX Artist. Sun Valley, CA
  • 1996 – 1997 / SOTA FX, Creature FX Artist. Van Nuys, CA
Affiliations
  • Film Independent – Pro Member
  • Michigan Film Industry Association – Pro Member
  • Sundance Institute – Indie Member