This content originally appeared in the 2025 summer issue of Spooky Little Halloween—The Magazine.
OctoberRds hit my radar in the summer of 2024, just in time to hit up my first Creep It Real OC where artist Christopher Cox-Thayer was a vendor.
His one-of-a-kind pieces are handmade, highly collectable, and hit that perfect vein of 80s and 90s Halloween nostalgia.
Get to know him in this 5 Q’s interview.
5 Q’s with Artist Christopher Cox-Thayer
1. Tell us who you are and what you do in the Halloween community.
I am a full time Halloween artist. I make handmade, one of a kind Halloween figurines, art dolls, and Halloween lanterns. I'd describe my art as whimsical realism with roots in the past — and always witchy. Witches are my favorite creations to make and the most important part of Halloween to me.
2. Why do you love Halloween?
From an early age, I was always excited when fall would arrive. The chill in the air meant everything: Halloween was coming! I loved dressing up to go trick-or-treating with my siblings in costumes handmade by my mom, seeing my mom put up the décor, and carving pumpkins.
When we were young, my mom would hand-paint and carve the pumpkins at night so when we woke up, we would have a Halloween surprise. I thought that was the coolest thing. It was like magic was in the air. We would dress in our costumes weeks before Halloween and wear them regularly in anticipation of the most magical day. These memories inspire me every day with my art.
Get to know Christopher in
his episode of By Pumpkin’s Light.
3. How did you get started as an artist?
I got started with art at an early age. One of my very first memories was my older sister (also an artist) helping me draw my very first drawing, and it has stuck since. I'm never far from creating. If it's not creating with my hands, my brain is always brainstorming. I have a long backlog of creations saved in my imagination. I remember even as a teen beginning my sculpting journey with witches, zombies and jack o' lanterns.
4. What inspires your collections and special releases you do throughout the year?
My inspirations for my creations have always come from my childhood. I grew up in the 80s. Dark fantasy movies were my favorite, and the 80s had no shortage! Fairy tales and folklore inspire me every day.
See more of Christopher’s work in his Halloween Hunting post.
5. How do you celebrate Halloween all year long?
Besides making Halloween creations all year long, I plan our costumes beginning the previous Halloween. Sometimes even before. I don't take vacations. Halloween is my vacation, and you can't have Halloween without an amazing costume. I usually sculpt our masks and sew the costumes, but if I buy the costumes, I embellish them to make them unique and part of each year's theme. I am usually working on them for many months. Then, after they are done, I place them on mannequins so I can admire and help build excitement for the night even more.
More from Christopher Cox-Thayer
Christopher is a participating artist at Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween in Marshall, MI this September. Get more details.
You can also follow his Instagram account or Facebook page for behind-the-scenes looks at works in progress, details of upcoming collection releases, and more.
