Chance Priest is an American artist, sculptor and man of many talents – weapons making, hunting, snake wrangling, antique dealing, law enforcement and a whole lot more.

We fell in love with Chance’s art immediately upon discovering it early last year. We had never seen anything like it: 1960’s bold comic colours, cubist lines, storyboard-style movement, photo-realistic details and a unique singular vision.

As a result, we fell hard into the glorious rabbit hole of Chance’s creations. It’s a whole world – comics, paintings, sculptures and toys. All interconnected yet able to stand on their own.

Simply put? It’s pure art and we have never seen anything else like it before.

As Chance himself states, art for him is an unrelenting force. Something that he can’t ignore and must pursue above all else:

“I’m a 100% dedicated to my vision. And to be honest if nobody buys it I really don’t care; I’m at total peace with what I consider success. I will build on “my world” till the day I die, if my art sells then wonderful because I really want to share it. If it doesn’t sell then if will not hinder me in any way except for the time it takes to make end meet.“

(Photo below of Chance and some of his art)

With Mr. Priest our new favourite living artist, and the fact that the man himself is always working on something new to blow the mind of his fans – you must, we repeat MUST get hip to the man right now, by reading his Art Talk Interview below…

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• Produced By = ‘Blurble’ (USA)
• Figure Name = Garglmon
• Edition Size = 10
• Material = Japanese Soft Vinyl
• Country of Production = Japan
• Height = 18 cm (head to feet)
• Depth =  4.5 cm (bottom to belly)
• Width =  7 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
• No of Parts = 4 (body / torso + two arms + head)
• Released = February 2018
• Sculpt Debut = August 2014 (Digital) +  August 2015 (Physical)
• Release Price = $US 100
• Genre = Soft Vinyl Art Toy

Read the full review and pics after the jump…

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Andrew J Heffron is a Canadian artist, designer, prop maker, special effects wizard and toy creator who first came to ‘Art Whore’s attention thanks to his ‘Lab Monkey Number 9’ persona.

As ‘LMN9’ Andrew creates beautifully crafted resin toys. Under his own name however, is were Andrew’s other talents appear – working with world renowned toy company ‘Spin Master’, designing props for international TV shows, and releasing highly decorative sculptural works.

Indeed, as Andrew states, he has art in his very bones!

I’ve been a creative creature since I was very little. I need to create or I break! I get all squirrelly and grumpy if I don’t  lol

It’s just in my heart and soul to make.

I can’t stop.

(A photo below of Andrew workinging on a large sculpture)

So, as Andrew exists as a constantly bubbling cauldron of artistic endevour – now is the perfect time to get to know the man, and his many varied creations, by reading the Art Talk Interview below…

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• Produced By = ‘Cosmic Loot’
• Figure Name = Moche
• Custom By = ‘Cosmic Loot’
• Release Details = Cosmic Loot  – Moche resin – Competition Prize – One Off
• Material = Resin
• Country of Production = France
• Height = 15.5 cm (horn to foot)
• Depth =  5.75 cm (belly to back)
• Width =  8.5 cm (shoulder to shoulder)
• No of Parts = 5 (body / torso + two arms)
• Released = August 2017 (Via an Instagram Competition)
• Sculpt Debut = February 2017
• Release Price = 35 Euro (for the unpainted version)
• Genre = Resin Art Toy

Read the full review and pics after the jump…

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Bob Conge is an American multidiscplinary artist who first came to our attention thanks to his art toy works released under the ‘Plaseebo’ brand. Born in 1939 Mr. Conge has seen many trends come and go over the years, but he has forever remained his own man, pursuing a lifelong dedication to the arts – in all it’s forms.

Indeed, whilst many know Bob primarily through his art toy works; that aspect of his work spans only 10 years of over 60 spent as a professional artist. During that time Mr Conge has taught, run an art gallery, worked as a freelance designer, gained respect and adoration for his paintings, fell in love with vintage toys and much much more – the very definition of a fully lived lifetime in the arts.

(Photo below of a Nightgamer sofubi by Bob / ‘Plaseebo’)

With Mr Conge and ‘Plaseebo’ continuing to push artistic boundaries now is the perfect time to read one of the most revealing and insightful interviews we have had the opportunity to do, below…

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Cal of ‘Cal’s Customs’ + ‘Zumps’ fame is an Australian toy designer making major waves in the global pop art sphere thanks to his sculpting skills and the amazing world he has created with his ‘Zumps’ creatures.

Fans, foes and friends can find Cal most days in his lair – the ‘Calstars‘ shop in Newtown, New South Wales, Australia. Here he can be found working on his plans for world domination via designer toys, art and pop culture!

(Photo below of Cal in his lair)

With Cal constantly evolving as an artist – word on the street his newest figures have magnetic articulation – and making major waves as mentioned with his ‘World of Zumps’, now is the perfect time to get to know the man and his creations, by reading the Art Talk interview below…

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Glenn Manders (also of ‘Bad Teeth Comics‘) and Jason Ramke are the two gents behind ‘Soft Vinyl Mayhem’ – an art toy show held annually in Brisbane. Debuting in 2015 ‘SVM’ exists to showcase the work of the global soft vinyl toy art scene, right here in Australia.

For fans or newcomers to the world of art toys, shows like ‘SVM’ provide the rare chance to see these works up close and in personal. We can’t recommend attending enough!

(Photo below of Jason and Glenn preparing some uncut soft vinyl toys)

So with the 3rd ‘Soft Vinyl Mayhem’ show on September 15 – September 24 now is the perfect time to find out all about it, via the show’s curators, the aforementioned Glenn and Jason.

Check it all out, below…

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The ‘Toy to the World Project’ is a global charity art project overseen by Australian artist, designer and event manager Matt Jowett. The ‘TTTWP’ asks artists to custom a blank designer toy – at the moment a Popobe Bear – which are then all displayed at a gallery art show, with all proceeds raised being donated to fight the global scourge of AIDS.

It involves toys, art and charity – 3 things dear to us all at ‘Art Whore’. And even better? Submissions are currently still open at time of publication! And don’t close until October 2017. So jump on it guys!

(Photo below of Matt Jowett surrounded by a gang of blank Popobe Bears)

With alla the above said, we thought now would be the perfect time to chat with Matt about ‘TTTW’ and toys in general.

Read all about it below…

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“Fake” is all the rage right now – what with Mr Trump and his ‘fake news’, Damien Hirst and his recent art show comprising of ‘fake’ artifacts from a made up lost civilisation, the rise of unpaid internship aka ‘fake’ jobs and now, added to this list is Mr Tyson Tabbert and his brilliantly curated travelling John Waters tribute art exhibition full of ‘fake’ pieces of pop culture trash.

We at ‘Art Whore’ were exposed to the ‘Lost Merchandise of the Dreamlanders’ John Waters tribute group show and immediately blown away! Here was a show devoted to one of our favourite directors – Mr. John Waters – and featuring a whole slew of amazing pop art pieces. From toys, to bed sheets, Halloween costumes, ash trays and more. The show itself featuring thirteen artists working both collaboratively and independently, all under the loving eye of curator Tyson Tabbert.

(Photo below of artist and show curator Tyson Tabbert)

Coming to the end of the exhibit’s first showing at ‘LaMaMa’ in New York City (May 25th to June 24th), and just about to travel to Lethal Amounts in Los Angeles (July 8th to July 28th) – we thought it would be good to have the exhibit’s curator Tyson Tabbert explain it all, so we asked him a few questions. From who the other artists involves are, how they all came to connect, if there had been any legal issues, potential John Waters sex toys and much more.

Read it all below…

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Rafael Pantoja aka ‘Frank Mysterio Jr’ is a Mexican artist with a global following thanks to his magnificent art and designer toys. Whilst Frank can work in any style known to man he is best known for his Pre Hispanic (Aztec, Mayan etc) inspired lines and psychedelic use of colour.

With his art toy work, Frank has followed the standard path, starting with customs on other artist’s toys, and then working his way up to his own creations. Initially all made in Japan. Recently Frank has turned innovator and begun producing art toys DIY style in his home country of Mexico – such as the Primitivo figure above.

(A photo of Rafael below)

With Frank a pioneer in the world of designer toys, and continuing to spread his art all over the world, now is the perfect time to get to know the man, by reading the Art Talk interview, below…

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