Stern Pinball’s Art Director and famed pinball artist in his own right, Greg Freres, has announced his retirement.
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Greg Freres
After gaining a degree in Fine Art, Greg started work in the advertising industry, creating point-of-purchase product displays. After two years there he jumped at the opportunity to join Bally as part of their in-house design team under Paul Faris, utilising his experience of creating designs which quickly grabbed the attention of passers-by.
While with Bally he created many iconic game artwork packages, starting with *Harlem Globetrotters* and *Rolling Stones*, followed by *Fathom*, *Strange Science* and the first of the three Elvira-themed games created together with game designer, Dennis Nordman.
As Williams effectively took over Bally, Greg stayed with the merged company to produce two more celebrated Dennis collaborations, with *Dr. Dude And His Excellent Ray* and *The Party Zone*. He stayed there until the pinball division closed at the end of 1999, after which he worked in a management role at the company’s video game division, Midway.
At the very end of William’s pinball days, Greg brought over a young artist from the Netherlands to intern at the company and study pinball art. Sadly, the closure meant it was a short-lived trip, but it inspired [the young Jean-Paul Jean-Paul de Win](https://www.pinballnews.com/games/wizardofoz/index13.html) who went on the create the art and then art direct for all Jersey Jack Pinball’s titles, as well as work with Dutch Pinball on their *The Big Lebowski*.
Greg’s canon of work was honoured with his induction into the [Pinball Expo Hall of Fame in 2004](https://www.pinballnews.com/shows/expo2004/banquet.html), where he was inducted by game designer, Steve Ritchie, with whom he worked on the games *Star Trek: The Next Generation* and *No Fear: Dangerous Sports*.
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Greg being inducted into the Pinball Expo Hall of Fame in 2004
Keen to return to the world of pinball design, Greg reunited with Dennis to create their *Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons* retheme of the *Continental Café* game under their WhizBang Pinball brand. Originally just a small run for private buyers, the game was [subsequently manufactured in collaboration with Stern Pinball](https://www.pinballnews.com/news/nellie.html) where the design went on to form the basis of the *Pabst Can Crusher* and *Primus* games.
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Dennis Nordman and Greg Freres
Greg also did some freelance work on other titles for Stern Pinball before working on new start-up Jersey Jack Pinball’s first title, *The Wizard of Oz*.
In 2012 Greg was [appointed as a Game Designer at Stern](https://www.pinballnews.com/news/freres.html), but soon became Art Director there, a position he held for nearly twelve years until his recently-announced retirement.
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Greg Freres at his retirement party at Mikerphone Brewing in Elk Grove Village
(picture: Stern Pinball)
Greg is succeeded as Stern’s Art Director by Sebastian Napoli who has been working at Stern under Greg’s tutelage, having formerly been Creative Director at advertising agencies [Popskull](https://popskullchicago.com/) and [Havas](https://www.havas.com/).
Stern Pinball’s new Art Director, Sebastian Napoli
(picture: Stern Pinball)
Here’s how Stern Pinball announced Greg’s retirement and Sebastian’s appointment:
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| ***Greg Freres retires; Sebastian Napoli appointed Art Director*** **CHICAGO, IL – July 10, 2024** – Stern Pinball, Inc. (SPI) announced the official retirement of its long tenured and iconic pinball artist, Art Director, Greg Freres. Renowned for his pioneering contributions to the pinball industry, Greg’s storied career spanned nearly four decades with his artistic vision leaving an indelible mark on pinball enthusiasts worldwide. Greg’s legacy was cemented well before his induction into the Pinball Expo Hall of Fame back in 2004. Perhaps best known for his iconic artwork on the Elvira pinball trilogy, Greg’s work continues to be celebrated for its innovation, humor, and meticulous attention to detail. Reflecting on his decision to retire, Greg expressed gratitude for the support of his colleagues, family, and the passionate pinball community throughout his career. “It has been an incredible journey filled with creativity and camaraderie,” Freres remarked. “I am immensely thankful for the opportunities I’ve had to bring joy to so many through my artwork.” Under the direct tutelage of Greg, Stern Pinball announced the appointment of Sebastian Napoli as Art Director. Sebastian brings over 15 years of experience working in creative design, most recently serving as the Creative Director for Popskull and Havas. Through his education from The Art Institutes, Sebastian will contribute and lead a fresh perspective and energy to help continue creating the most beautiful pinball machines in the world. |
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