Mark Ryden’s YHWH Group Custom Show and Choco Moo Solo Exhibit Preview Now Available!
Toy Art Gallery is proud to be hosting two exciting events this weekend, Mark Ryden’s YHWH Custom Group Show and the Choco Moo Solo Exhibition! Both shows begin at 7PM and are open to the public.
Work from the YHWH Custom Group Show will be available for sale in our online shop starting tomorrow at 12PM PST on Saturday, May 11th: YHWH @ TAG SHOP
The preview is available to view at the following link: Mark Ryden’s YHWH Custom Group Show Preview
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The YHWH Custom Group show will run from May 11th – May 26th 2013. All sold work will ship within three weeks of the end of the exhibition.
Work from the Choco Moo Solo Exhibition is available for sale now through May 16th in our online store: Choco Moo @ TAG SHOP
Work can also be viewed at the following link: Choco Moo Solo Exhibition Preview
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The Choco Moo Solo Exhibition will run from May 11th – May 16th 2013. *Note: All Choco Moo purchases will include a free signed poster
Thank you for looking and we hope to see you all at the opening!
Choco Moo Solo Exhibition this Sat. 5/11!
Toy Art Gallery is proud to introduce Japanese illustrator Choco Moo in her first major
gallery showcase of artworks in the United States. Her solo exhibition in the gallery’s
project room coincides with Mark Ryden’s much anticipated YHWH Custom Group
Show in the main gallery, featuring original custom YHWH toy pieces by 30 international
artists and a special 6′ ft large scale box replica by Mark Ryden. Kyoto-based Choco
Moo is perhaps best known by American fashionistas for her signature black and white
tattoo tights created for Harajuku based brand Mam Avantgarde, which skyrocketed in
popularity in 2012. Since then, her designs have been worn by everyone from Japanese
celebrities like Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, for which she created her first word tour goods, to
American pop stars like Kreayshawn and Nicki Minaj, to big names in Kpop like Girl’s
Generation. Her artwork has attacted the attention of world famous artists like KAWS to
major brands such as Disney and A Bathing Ape. Coming up next for Choco Moo is the
Joyrich x Choco Moo collaboration which launches worldwide in May 2013. Her artwork
will be offered for sale by Toy Art Gallery, with a free signed poster for every online and
instore purchase, from May 10th-16th, 2013 only at shop.toyartgallery.com.
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For more information about Choco Moo and Sweet Streets artists, visit us online at
www.sweetstreetsla.com.
About Sweet Streets:
Sweet Streets is an artist management firm specializing in the representation of artists
of the kawaii movement. A Japanese concept often described as “cute”, our artists
define kawaii by one’s own feelings. Established in 2011, we aspire to the general
management of events and projects, and the production and promotion of artwork and
merchandise for our artists. With business based in Los Angeles and Tokyo, Sweet
Streets maintains relationships with international galleries and retailers to encourage
new trends in the art world. Originally founded to manage artists, Sweet Streets has
grown to organize collaborative projects with some of the industry’s top influential
brands spanning art, music, fashion, vinyl toys, and more. Our artists have participated
in such projects as in-store installations, animation and toy designs, to leasing their
artwork for music albums and celebrity fashion. By curating exhibitions for a growing list
of clients, we provide our artists with opportunities to work together while exploring the
relationship between American and Japanese cultures. www.sweetstreetsla.com
Mark Ryden’s YHWH Group Custom Show opens Sat. 5/11 at Toy Art Gallery
Toy Art Gallery is proud to present Mark Ryden’s YHWH Group Custom Show! Pop-surrealist godfather Mark Ryden’s first and only vinyl toy took three years of meticulous work to create, and with Ryden’s blessing we have assembled an extremely talented pool of artists to lend their vision and skill to one of the greatest designer vinyl toys to ever be produced.
‘YHWH is the unpronounceable name of god. My YHWH represents the indefinable nature of the divine and its unspeakable mystery, which can be represented by anything from a burning bush to a three eyed bunny totem. In creating my YHWH toy edition, I strove to elevate each and every individual figure from a mass produced piece of plastic to a magical object.
I very much look forward to seeing how each artist responds to the spiritual energies of their YHWHs.‘
-Mark Ryden
The YHWH Custom Group Show features the following artists:
Akira Kiriya/Chikuwaemil, Anthony Ausgang, Bob Conge/Plaseebo, Camilla d’Errico, Camille Rose Garcia, Cris Rose, Daniel Goffin, David Flores, DrilOne, Doze Green, Emilio Garcia, FFINC, Francesco de Molfetta, Frank Kozik, Isabel Samaras, Jessicka Addams, KMNDZ, Joshua Petker, J*Ryu, Julie B, Kathie Olivas, KRK Ryden, Liz McGrath, Lola, Marion Peck, Mark Ryden, Mark Dean Veca, Mia, Mikie Graham (Blamo Toys), Naoto Hattori, Nathan Hamill, Scott Hove, Sean Christopher, Yosuke Ueno
Highlighting the show is a beautiful amber YHWH by Marion Peck and a one of a kind 6’ foot long wooden YHWH package by Mark Ryden himself.
Please join us for the exhibit opening on Saturday, May 11th from 7-10pm at Toy Art Gallery’s showroom located at 7571 Melrose Ave. Hollywood CA 90046.
YHWH Group Custom Show runs through May 26th.
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About Mark Ryden:
Blending themes of pop culture with techniques reminiscent of the old masters, Mark Ryden has created a singular style that blurs the traditional boundaries between high and low art. His work first garnered attention in the 1990s when he ushered in a new genre of painting, “Pop Surrealism”, dragging a host of followers in his wake. Ryden has trumped the initial surrealist strategies by choosing subject matter loaded with cultural connotation.
Ryden’s vocabulary ranges from cryptic to cute, treading a fine line between nostalgic cliché and disturbing archetype. Seduced by his infinitely detailed and meticulously glazed surfaces, the viewer is confronted with the juxtaposition of the childhood innocence and the mysterious recesses of the soul. A subtle disquiet inhabits his paintings; the work is achingly beautiful as it hints at darker psychic stuff beneath the surface of cultural kitsch. In Ryden’s world cherubic girls rub elbows with strange and mysterious figures. Ornately carved frames lend the paintings a baroque exuberance that adds gravity to their enigmatic themes.
Mark Ryden received a BFA in 1987 from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. His paintings have been exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide, including a retrospective “Wondertoonel” at the Frye Museum of Art in Seattle and Pasadena Museum of California Art, and in the exhibition “The Artist’s Museum” at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. He currently lives and works in Los Angeles.
http://www.markryden.com
1-DAY “Fight For What’s Right” Custom Boxing Glove Show this Saturday 5/4
Toy Art Gallery is proud to present “Fight For What’s Right”, Fight The City’s first annual custom boxing glove showcase on Saturday May 4th, 2013 from 7pm-10pm. A showing in New York city will immediately follow on May 9th, 2013. Fight The City has partnered with talented artists from around the world to create unique one of a kind custom boxing gloves. Fight The City makes artist-driven gloves and gear to give fighters a choice of how to express themselves when they step into the ring. Taking this already crafted passion, and collaborating with the artists that inspire us only made sense. There will be showcasing a total of 40 gloves at this 1-night only events. Toy Art Gallery will be exhibiting and selling 10 pairs of gloves exclusively, while the remaining gloves will be auctioned off at the New York city showing on May 9th on Fight The City’s eBay page. A portion of all gloves proceeds benefit the Hoods to Woods Foundation. This foundation helps inner city kids get out to the wilderness to learn, grow, and become all they can be through outdoor activities such as snowboarding. This first of its kind event will be leading the way to Fight The City’s first ever limited edition boxing gloves from the twisted imagination of artist Scarecrowoven, known for his Ritual 3D deck series by Creature Skateboarding. Live music and the Grilled Cheese truck will be on hand to celebrate this special 1-night event.
“Fight For Your Right” features custom boxing gloves designed by the following artists:
Angry Woebots, Abe Lincoln Jr, Alex Kirzhner, Bwana Spoons, Cope2, Dan Lizowski, DreS13, Frank Kozik, Indie184, Jay222, Jon Contino, Justin Carty, Kano, Kronk, Lou Pimentel, Lucky Nakazawa, Mca, Mike Jones, Ryan Mcguire, Sara Martin, Scarecrowoven, Shane Jessup, Shut NYC, Skinner, Skwak, Spanky Stokes, & Toofly
Exclusive to Toy Art Gallery:
Akira Kiriya, Anthony Ausgang, David Flores, Devilrobots, Ron English, Shojonotomo, Task One, Tetsuya Chiba, Tokidoki, & Paul Frank
Please join us on Saturday, May 4th from 7-10pm at Toy Art Gallery’s showroom located at 7571 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90046.
“Fight For What’s Right” Custom Boxing Glove Showcase is a one night event, Saturday May 4th 2013.
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CREATURE FEATURE Purchasing Info
To make the show viewing and buying as easy and streamlined as possible we will be utilizing a lottery system. This ensures that everyone attending the opening will have a fair chance at getting their top picks of the work in the show.
*IMPORTANT PURCHASING/LOTTERY INFO*
Lottery tickets (for purchasing show pieces) will be given out starting at 12 noon Friday 4/5 until 6PM Saturday night. Please be in line starting at 6PM on Saturday night to fill out purchase forms. No tickets will be given out after 6PM. If you don’t get a ticket you will be eligible to make purchases after all ticket-holders have made theirs. The gallery will be closed from 6PM to 7PM. Tickets will be drawn starting at 7PM, and a purchase line will be formed based on these numbers. Please email us at info@toyartgallery.com with any questions.
Any unsold artwork will be online at shop.toyartgallery.com on Monday, 4/8. An announcement will go out when they are live.
“CREATURE FEATURE” Mutant Vinyl Hardcore, Elegab, Splurrt, Kenth Toy Works and Munktiki1
Toy Art Gallery is proud to present “CREATURE FEATURE” featuring the work of Mutant Vinyl Hardcore, Elegab, Splurrt, Kenth Toy Works and Munktiki! This show brings together some of the best and brightest of the neo-sofubi and Kaiju toy scene from around the globe. Bright colors, crazy textures, and gruesome details are rendered over soft vinyl, resin, and porcelain.
Splurrt’s sentiments best sum up the throughline of the show:
“I try to make toys cherished by both parts of the collector, the preservationist and the inner child. Item’s that channel the disgusting yet fun monstrosities of the toys loved in our youth yet are finished with so much care that they no longer seem meant for play, but for carefully admiring and keeping safe from receiving the smallest blemish.”
One of the main themes of the show is the artists’ combined love for traditional Japanese production techniques and popular monster (kaiju) culture.
Munktiki explains his influences:
“While I love Japanese vinyl and collect avidly I strive to put my efforts towards ceramic creations first. Main reason being its my medium of choice but secondly it feels right to me… Japanese inspired designs done in a historically famous japanese art form. My process of character design is usually always inspired by on older Japanese character. For example, Takoshi is my take on Kamen Rider. The Ape, Japanese King Kong. Character design also includes a story, I like to figure out how each new character fits into the same world. This Tokusatsu-like story almost seems real to me now and I get excited adding new additions, imagining their interactions as if I’m watching it all on TV.”
CREATURE FEATURE includes:
- Debut of new vinyl figures from Kenth Toy Works and Munktiki produced by Toy Art Gallery
- Debut of new self-produced vinyl figures from Splurrt (Evolved Beast Diggler) and Mutant Vinyl Hardcore (Berserker Ollie)
- A wide variety of custom toys and one-offs in all shapes and sizes
Please join us for the exhibit opening on Saturday, April 6th from 7-10pm at Toy Art Gallery’s showroom located at 7571 Melrose Ave. Hollywood CA 90046. Munktiki, Mutant Vinyl Hardcore and Kenth Toy Works will be in attendance.
CREATURE FEATURE runs through April 27th.
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About Toy Art Gallery:
Toy Art Gallery is the first gallery of its kind to showcase and consult on high-end art toys and sculptures. Our goal is to showcase exciting, original, and new artists who use figurative sculpture as their primary medium of expression. We also focus on showing, collecting, and producing high end, limited edition, custom, and life-size toy sculptures. Our showroom and gallery is located in Hollywood, California. Visit us online at www.toyartgallery.com
About Mutant Vinyl Hardcore:
MVH or Mutant Vinyl Hardcore is a toy company owned by the artist Rich Montanari Jr., or LASH, a short term for Last Dying Wish. Rich describes himself as an independent toy artist who is constantly perfecting his craft. He began his artistic journey into the toy world with his vinyl figures the “Sludge Demon” and “Ollie”, both of which were fully created and sculpted by Rich and cast in Japanese soft vinyl. Since then he has created the DX Sludge Demon line and Doji San. Creature Feature marks the first appearance of the Berserker head for the Ollie body. In addition to this he will be debuting the original sculpt for the new Toxigon figure.
About Munktiki:
Munktiki was born in ’77 into a household of Ceramists. Tinkered, played and learned how to use clay all through childhood. Out of Highschool and a failed band, he took up ceramics as a means to make small cash. His first project was called “Stoned Ware” and one might guess, made pipes for head shops. In 2000, in the decline of his Dad’s large scale ceramics boutique business they both started “Munktiki”. Unknowingly, it was the early years of a resurgence of the Tiki scene. They brought high end collectable tiki mugs to an almost non-existent tiki mug market place. They’ve had great success with Munktiki through the years selling world wide, featured in numerous group shows, magazines and film. Munktiki had his first solo show in 2004 in Tokyo entitled Munk-E house. His next show in 2008 was a long four years later at Super 7 but featured work he did earlier that year in Shigaraki Japan at a three month long Ceramics residency. This was the embark in a new direction, Japanese Toy inspired designs. Currently, Munktiki is juggling three main projects: Munktiki, his Yakimon personal art, and Beardo Games, an attempt at indie game gevelopment with a number in the works.
About Splurrt:
Joe Merril, or Splurrt, received a BFA from Columbus College of Art & Design in Advertising and Graphic Design. During school, he became interested in character design and discovered the world of designer toys. He gravitated towards figures coming out of Japan like Secret Base and “neo-henshin” figures. After diving into the world of Japanese vinyl, Splurrt became interested in making his own figures. He created the brand Splurrt in 2007 and began sculpting. With no formal sculptural or figure making training, he started on my first figure, the Executioner. It was a very long process, as he was learning along the way and didn’t have an effective working method in place. Splurrt released the Executioner as his first resin figure in 2008. He made a handful of other resin figures before releasing his first vinyl figure, the Cadaver Kid in summer 2011. Since then, Splurrt has released several other characters in vinyl, including Diggler, Mecha Brain Cadaver Kid, Usir, and the Evolved Beast Diggler.
About Kenth Toy Works:
Kenth Toy Works is founded by Japanese character designer and sculptor, Kenth. He has been creating original character design toys with his own concept, “Poisonous pop design” since 2011. Kenth always tries to infuse this esteemed concept of harmonizing, or combining, art and toy together in his characters. In 2012, Kenth launched his accessory toy series with a concept he calls “Carriable Figure.” Creature Feature marks the release of his debut soft vinyl toy “Nafsat Boy”. Kenth would like to keep producing more dope toys in the future.
TAG Exclusive SECRET BASE 1/1 SKULL HEAD & New Era 9FIFTY Cap SET Available Friday!
Toy Art Gallery is proud to present our newest Secret Base Exclusive, the White 1/1 SKULL HEAD & New Era 9FIFTY Cap set! Official Major League Baseball headgear meets one of the world’s premiere streetwear brands in this stunning combination. The black one-size-fits-all New Era 9FIFTY cap fits snugly on Secret Base’s famous 1/1 skull which is cast in bright white soft vinyl and has the New Era logo printed on one side.
The 1/1 SKULL HEAD & New Era 9FIFTY Cap SET will be available on shop.toyartgallery.com this Friday, March 15th at 12PM PST for $129 and is limited to 30 sets.
Also available is the new Team M.I.A.! These Micro Infection Monsters are sold blind-bagged and come in a variety of oozerific designs. Only $16 each, get them HERE now!
