The March/April 85th anniversary issue of Weird Tales features our big list of “The 85 Weirdest Storytellers of the Past 85 Years.” We’re breaking it down online, too: one honoree per day, in no particular order, for 85 days!

CLIVE BARKER (1952– ) burst onto the horror scene in a way nobody else ever could: with a six-volume short-story collection, The Books of Blood. When other horror writers would turn away, Barker marched forward, showing off blood and intestines as if such grue were worthy of the Louvre. And his interest in the visual arts was always apparent: in the 1990s he wrote baroque fantasies, and his The Abarat Quintet is copiously illustrated with his own paintings. Barker’s work in film also led to endless Hellraiser sequels, for better or for worse.

What’s new: One week from today, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wed., April 16, the Sloan Fine Art gallery in Manhattan will hold the opening reception for its new month-long exhibition of Clive Barker’s paintings and drawings, which will run through May 10.