Rune Alexandersen is a Danish sculptor, artist and musician who first grabbed our attention thanks to his beautiful toy sculpting work – creating figures which evoke 1990s ‘Playmates Toys’ weirdness. All mutants, slime and monsters.

He has collaborated with Art Whore Approved toy makers ‘Good Leg Toys’ outta Germany and gained lots of fans due to his illustration, traditional art and music – With Rune being a mainstay of the Danish punk scene for years. Most recently playing in renowned death rock act ‘Moth’.

(Picture below of a self portrait by Rune)

Interestingly, Rune calls himself a man of craft. Not an artist… Bringing a very interesting idea to the table. Rune states:

“I don’t really like the word ‘Art’. To me, it’s dead. I doesn’t mean anything anymore – anything and everything can be art:

* A garbage can in a gallery: Art.
* A lampshade covered in dirt: Art
* A shitty painting, by somebody who can’t paint: (Ironic) Art.

I don’t buy into that. I think its about time we discard that term. To me, it has become a word, that is used to legitimize ones taste, as in ”Oh, THAT’s art!” BS.

What I do, I usually refer to as a craft. There are rules to how a picture works: contrasts, rhythm, composition, storytelling and so on. I would never call myself an artist.”

With Rune about to drop a collab art toy with our old friends ‘Good Leg Toys’ outta Germany, and constantly working on art of all types now is the perfect time to get to know Rune, by reading the Art Talk (Craft Talk?) interview, below…

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• Produced By = ‘Kaiju Light Society’ (China X Canada)
• Custom By = 5k1nna (Australia)
• Release Details = Part of 4 One Offs (Released Blind Bag Style)
• Material = Soft Vinyl
• Country of Production = China
• Height = 22cm
• No of Parts = 5 (Head, arms, legs + torso)
• Released = Late 2016
• Sculpt Debut = July 2016
• Release Price = US $120 + shipping
• Genre = Art Toy / Kaiju

Read the full review and pics after the jump…

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Ok guys. So we have decided it was time to start writing some critical articles about art toys. Opinion pieces, reviews and the like. Art toys are dear to us at ‘Art Whore’ – being the very reason the site was established back in 2012 when we interviewed resin slinger Peter of ‘Killer Bootlegs’ fame.

We established ‘Art Whore’ as there was nothing around back then that was online and free to access which provided interviews or further knowledge about the developing resin toy scene, and the greater art toy scene in general. So we started interviewing the artists involved. But just interviewing. Apart from a few guest reviews by Ms. Ramsey and Mr. Kevin Malone we have been reluctant to get critical… We just didn’t feel we knew enough. Had the knowledge.

However, we now feel a similar gap currently exists with regards to critically evaluating art toys – and we are willing to get involved. Yes there are news sites noting new releases, yes there are unboxing videos, yes there are podcasts and yes there are some critical pieces out there – see a list of links to relevant sites at the end of this piece. However most of the currently available media is just lust or hate for a particular piece – with little to no critical commentary.

Now, with that said, so as to not just arbitrarily start blasting our opinions – we felt it was best to start with a general FAQ explaining what we feel art toys are and how we will go about critiquing them.

Read it all, below…

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Gus Fink is a commercial artist whose multidisciplinary work all falls within the umbrella of ‘Pop Art’ – and like the Ur God of Pop, Andy Warhol, Gus works in every medium available: sculpting, painting, cartoons, film, clothing design, digital art, indie games and music.

Simply put, Gus is an all round pop art visionary!

Gus and his art came to our attention thanks to the recently released ‘Creeplings’ series of designer toys, a collaborative effort between Gus and his equally talented wife Emi Boz – and just like all works that Gus is involved in, they are well worth checking out.

(Picture of some of the ‘Creeplings’ series of blind box art toys, below)

With Gus constantly pushing his art and himself, working on project after project, now is the perfect time to get to know the man and his art, by reading the Art Talk interview below…

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Mike Diana is an underground comics legend. Starting out in the underground mail order zine scene in the 80’s, Mike rose to worldwide prominence in the mid 1990’s thanks, in no part, to being convicted and gaoled for obscenity for his art – the first and so far only comic artist to befall such a fate!

Since then he has moved to New York and continued creating – exploring painting, developing his art and collaborating with people such as Kembra Pfahler, Bruce La Bruce, Richard Kern, Mike Kuchar and many others.

Interestingly, Mike references Dali, an early proponent of outrage and artistic freedom as a major inspiration. With Mike remembering childhood trips to the Dali museum in Florida as pivotal artistic moments:

“I enjoyed the nightmare like paintings, strange jewelry and even a hologram Dali made of singer Alice Cooper. I felt it inspired me to continue with my art, take it to new levels.”

(Picture below of some art by Mike)

With Mike constantly working, and with a documentary about him in the works, now is the perfect time to get to know the man + his world, by reading the Art Talk below…

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American artist Ed Edderson grew up living in a world full of pop art and culture – an uncle owning an RPG/comic shop, grandparents who both collected and a mother who did nothing but encourage him. Creating a man whose whole life is an expression of creativity – music, sculpture, digital art, traditional art, resin work and clothing.

As Ed simply states,

“Making things for me is a compulsion…. I might as well try and see what it all becomes.“

Coming to Art Whore’s attention thanks to his since retired Art Toy brand ‘Toxic Moss’, Ed has recently created his new solo venture ‘Triple Bummer’ as well as the ‘Lift it Down’ moniker for works he creates with his partner Laura Maria Ramirez Giraldo. Aside from these ventures, Ed has also collaborated with Shithouse Mouse, LATFO.com, Dain Marx from ‘ Buzzard Guts’ and countless others.

(Picture below of the Ed Edderson X Shithouse Mouse resin figure)

With lots in the work as always with Ed, now is the perfect time to get to know the man and his many creations, by reading the ‘Art Talk’ below – it’s a doozy, trust us….

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UK artist Adam Williams makes works independently under the ‘Twisty Bitz’ moniker and collaboratively as part of ‘Trap Toys’. Quickly making a name for himself for his expert molding, casting and design skills.

Whilst ‘Trap Toys’ are firmly embedded in the hip hop and street art aesthetic, Adam uses ‘Twisty Bitz’ as a release for his independent creations – thus far only teasing his works with none yet available for purchase.

(Picture below of the John E Concrete figure from ‘Twisty Bitz’)

With lots in the works as always via ‘Trap Toys’ and 2016 set to be the year for Adam to go in hard with ‘Twisty Bitz’, now is the perfect time to get to know him by reading the Art Talk interview, below…

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Russell Taysom is a UK born and based artist and musician creating hyper colored, textural, technical and humorous art. His unique style has seen him work with US rapper ‘Rif Raff’, Art Whore Approved brand ‘Trippy Pins’, UK label ‘Fluffer Records’, ole ‘Tittybats’ and countless others.

Recently Russell has also begun dabbling in sculpting, with one of his art toy creations – Malibu Mutant Barbie – being featured at ‘Streets of Beige’. A move Art Whore will keenly be keeping eyes on!

(Picture below of the Mutant Barbie figure by Russell)

With LOTS in the works with Russell as always, now is the perfect time to get to know the man and his art by reading the Art Talk below…

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Ole Doug E Fresh of ‘Hemlock Bootlegs’ entered the resin game with a bang – his debut figure the ‘Behemoth’ gaining great reviews and promptly selling out when released in 2014. Recently he has released the ‘Salt Witch’ figure – a glow in the dark, clear resin figure that perfectly illustrates Doug’s blossoming skills.

My Fresh is humble and honest when it comes to his art toys, stating how,

“I mean, I don’t buy $45 “art toys”…so i don’t expect anyone else to either…i see it as a really special thing when someone decides to pay me money for the object i have created…”

(Picture below of the ‘Salt Witch’ resin from Hemlock Bootlegs)

With plenty of collaborations ahead, and a drive and commitment to the game which is to be admired, now is the perfect time to get up to speed with everything ‘Hemlock Bootlegs’, by reading the Art Talk below…

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Paul Schiola of ‘Sputnik Supplies’ is an American artist, sculptor and designer toy maker currently bringing innovation to the scene through his DIY Made In USA designer toys.

Paul’s approach to art and life is simple stating that he would most like to be remembered for:

“Being a nice person and for making some cool fun toys.“

(Picture below of Paul hard at work making his toys)

With many figures already behind him, and a growing online presence, now is the perfect time to get to know Paul and his creations, by reading the ‘Art Talk’ below…

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