“KAROUSHI” Grody Shogun and Velocitron opens this Friday!
Opening: Friday February 3th, 7-11 pm
Feb. 3rd – Feb. 24th 2012
TAG | Toy Art Gallery
7571 Melrose Ave.
Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA 90046 U.S.
Toy Art Gallery is proud to present “Karoushi”, featuring the works of Grody Shogun and Velocitron! “Karoushi” is the Japanese concept of death by overwork. Working simultaneously as brand, producer and retailer, the two masterminds of the Japanese soft vinyl producing powerhouse The Fort have banded together to unleash a gallery show of epic proportions. Multiple editions, one-offs and collaborative pieces are just the beginning of what these two have crafted for this event. Grody Shogun and Velocitron hope that attendees to the gallery show can get a taste of just what two people can accomplish when they decide that their own health, sanity and overall well-being rank far below achieving their dreams of revolutionizing the Japanese vinyl world.
Grody Shogun (Luke Rook) began in 2011 but has taken the Japanese vinyl world by storm. Built around the core philosophy that toys are meant to be enjoyed and played with, GS prides himself on creating “playable” figures that are offered at extremely reasonable price points. GS figures have a strong following both in Japan and internationally, often selling out within minutes of being offered.
Velocitron (Ricky Wilson) began producing figures in Japanese vinyl in 2008, starting with only his own designs and soon starting to produce figures from a diverse group of international artists and designers. His designs are influenced by post apocalyptic imagery, classic horror manga and heavy metal album covers.
“KAROUSHI” opens Friday, Feb. 3rd and runs through Feb. 24th. There will be an opening reception from 7-11 PM on Feb. 3rd, where Luke and Ricky will be virtually broadcasting from The Fort in Japan to paint their toys live. Join us at Toy Art Gallery’s new showroom located at 7571 Melrose Ave. Hollywood CA 90046.
WHAM BLAM BLAMO Sneak Peek: Panda Fuzzy Bare!
Blamo Toys’ Mikie Graham has put together a TAG-exclusive edition of the Fuzzie the Bare resin character for WHAM BLAM BLAMO, opening this Saturday! Fuzzie makes his second appearance as a wave of “Panda Bear Fuzzies. Standing at 5″ tall this green-eyed trickster is limited to 6 and will be available for sale starting January 7th only at Toy Art Gallery.
“WHAM BLAM BLAMO” by Blamo Toys opens this Saturday at Toy Art Gallery!
Toy Art Gallery is proud to present “WHAM BLAM BLAMO” by Blamo Toys. It’s always a cause to celebrate whenever these toy art pioneers hold a show, and this one is no exception! Blamo’s hand-carved sculptures combine mercurial qualities with precision-detail and sophisticated concepts. Their fusion of natural and found objects, cloth, fur, imagination, and exceptional craftsmanship coalesce into wonderfully unique pieces of toy art.
Jam-packed with special sneak peaks of new toys, exclusive colorways and editions, hand-carved one-of-a-kind over-sized pieces, original artwork, special Blamo clothing, jewelry, and much more, this show is not to be missed. “WHAM BLAM BLAMO” is the exciting follow-up to TAG’s Blamo Solo Show from 2010, and if history repeats itself, these works won’t last long!
“WHAM BLAM BLAMO” opens Satuday, Jan. 7th, 2012 and runs through Jan. 28th. There will be an opening reception from 7-11 PM on Jan. 7th at Toy Art Gallery’s new showroom located at 7571 Melrose Ave. Hollywood CA 90046.
See the Show Page here
“Pop Fiction” opens tonight at 7PM!
Francesco de Molfetta’s “Pop Fiction” opens tonight at 7pm at Toy Art Gallery’s new space located at 7571 Melrose Ave. The man himself is not able to attend the show in person, but he sent along this statement which perfectly sums up the show:
“Pop Fiction” is a themed show in which icons of contemporary pop culture get re-discussed and restyled by the artist through his personal view.
As in a great funfair, idols and icons come to life with a new face and/or a new body. Changing the perception of normally assumed heroes has been the research of this body of work, which began with the “New Idols” show and now continuing with “Pop Fiction”. Contemporary visages get associated with superheroes and decadence seeps into the childhood dreams of a perfect powerful man reputed to be invincible. In this way Astroboy shows signs of hyper-caloric diet, and becomes ASTROBESE. Goldrake assumes the form of a relic from another era, now gone but still gleaming in his wonderfully coloured role helmet (Gone-drake). The two opponent politicians are re-given life and ironically portrayed in a very silly bunny outfit in the intent of copulating in love with each other, as they never would have been.
The show presents to the public also a very controversial work, presented as an edition. The intent is to bring out an ancient Art icon out of the classical museum and meet it with a contemporary aesthetic. The world’s most famous sculpture the David by Michelangelo is re-interpreted in a more up-to-date way, camouflaging in a very futuristic Michelin man suit (white like him too!), and there he stands upright in his powerful proud pose. This visual short circuit gives birth to “Michel-angelo”, a great homage of a sculptor to the great master. The artist loves sculpture and would like to be the junction between the sculpture in contemporary art and the toy industry towards which he has much feeling and affection from the early days of childhood.
It is known that “form follows fiction” so here is our way, “pop” fiction, a clearer vision of modern characters and symbols through the lens of Francesco De Molfetta, and each piece rigorously HAND MADE IN ITALY! Welcome to the show!
– Francesco De Molfetta
The show preview is also now available, you can check it out HERE!
“Pop Fiction” by Francesco Molfetta opens this Friday at TAG!
Toy Art Gallery is proud to present “Pop Fiction” by Francesco Molfetta. Francesco’s sculpture is meticulous and calculating, blending together familiar pop cultural icons and important political and historical figures to create an amalgam of childishness and controversy. Free of spite or bile and filled with appropriations of beloved things from youth, Francesco intertwines hope and happiness with critique and irony.
Francesco’s love of art history and sculpture is brought to the forefront with his “Michel-Angelo”, a re-envisioning of Michelangelo’s David presented as a life-size fiberglass sculpture and limited edition porcelain art multiple.
Says Francesco: “The intent is to bring an ancient Art icon out of the classical museum and meet it with a contemporary aesthetic. The world’s most famous sculpture (probably) the David by Michelangelo is re-interpreted in a more up-to-date way, camouflaged in a very futuristic Michelin man suit (white like him too!), and there he stands upright in his powerful proud pose. This visual short circuit gives birth to “Michel-angelo”, a great homage of a sculptor to the great master.”
“Pop Fiction” starts Friday, Oct. 14th, 2011 and runs through Nov. 4th. There will be an opening reception from 7-11 PM on Oct. 14th at Toy Art Gallery’s new showroom located at 7571 Melrose Ave. Hollywood CA 90046.
Nathan Hamill’s Bellicose Bunny for Sale!
If you missed Nathan Hamill’s Bellicose Bunny signing and release last night, don’t panic! Nathan was gracious enough to sign and sketch a very limited number of Bunny’s for us which will be available to in-store customers this weekend and online next week. Thanks again to everyone who made it out, attendance was great and we’re certainly going to have more events like this in the future!
Nathan Hamill’s Bellicose Bunny Release and Signing this Friday!
The Bunny takes flight! Come out to Toy Art Gallery’s new showroom on Melrose Ave. and celebrate the release of the new vinyl by 3DRetro x Nathan Hamill, Bellicose Bunny!
It is limited to 200 pieces and will retail for $50. Bellicose prints and T-shirts will be for sale as well.
DJ Mike Turski will be spinning a fine blend of space-themed garage, punk and psychobilly for your listening pleasure.
For those of you, who haven’t heard the tale, the story is as such…
“Forged by the stars and space alike, and stuff and things, the Bellicose Bunny was enlisted by top minds throughout the universe to seek out, thwart and destroy all known evil. Equipped with a pair of space goggles and the Sword of Ulyssia, he mounted his Daucus: Class 8 Rocket and embarked on his quest. Now he’s reached this galaxy and needs our help in his noble mission. Hear his cry for peace: ‘Starbunny Fields Forever!”
The Bellicose Bunny Launch Party and Signing will be held on Friday, September 30th from 7-11 PM at TAG’s new showroom located at 7571 Melrose Ave. See you there!
