Painted circa 1980, ‘Mothman’ is an iconic work by Frank Frazetta that was inspired by John Keel’s 1975 book “The Mothman Prophecies.” Keel, who was an American journalist and UFOlogist, popularized what several witnesses described as a man-sized, winged creature with glowing red eyes sighted in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, during 1966 and 1967. The book also combines these accounts with his theories on UFOs and supernatural phenomena, making connections to the collapse of the Silver Bridge across the Ohio River during that time.

Frazetta’s painting depicts his interpretation of Mothman featuring bright fluorescent and colorful patterns in the wings. The creature is flanked by UFOs and Frazetta’s signature style of figures. The painting graced the cover of High Times Magazine #57 in May 1980, and the same image would later be used on the paperback cover of “The Mothman Prophecies” published in 1991. A 12-foot tall Mothman statue was unveiled in Point Pleasant, West Virginia in 2002, and appears to be based on Frazetta’s interpretation of the Mothman.

Artwork © usage with permission by Frazetta Jr Enterprises, LLC