Willehad Eilers

The Man They Call Wayne Horse

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When entering the website of Willehad Eilers, aka Wayne Horse, you are greeted with a message that reads “80.000.000 Hooligans.” What does it mean? Does it matter? Because whatever you see in the works of Wayne Horse is an entry point to a bizarro world that is a bit ghoulish and definitely full of debauchery. But, oddly, as we soon find out, also a place of hugs. What started as a career in graffiti has evolved into highly-detailed, intense works that possess an element of longing, frosted with glorious depictions of hedonism. You know, the good stuff. —Evan Pricco

Doug Gillen: Question number one, do I call you Wayne or Willehad?

Willehad Eilers: It’s really up to you. I go by both names. One is my birth name, and the other is the name I gave myself.

How do casual acquaintances address you?

I don’t really have casual acquaintances, but I think English speakers tend to go for Wayne and then some people go the extra mile and say Willehad.

You’ve been known as Wayne Horse for most of your artistic career, but are now in a different place from when you chose this moniker. Describe your relationship with this name because I know it’s such a thing for graffiti artists; so many of them will just pick a name when they’re 15 and when they get to 25, they’re like, “Err.” But you’re still sticking with it and you operate on this dual sense. So, what’s the deal with this handle?