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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Martin Harris is an Australian based artist living in Melbourne creating technically brilliant works that hark back to childhood memories: toys, monsters, children’s television and the classic ‘Little Golden Books’ series.

In Martin’s work we are taken into a magical place full of large eyed animals, anthropomorphic everyday objects, and constant movement. The viewer is pulled immediately into Martin’s world of animals at play: driving cars, casting spells, conducting science experiments and sometimes simply gathering for a chat.

(Art by Martin below)

With Martin’s work already having a cult following, and his reputation in the global art scene growing faster than a speeding bullet – 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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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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Tania Maria Mastroianni is an Australian / Italian artist currently residing in the New South Wales coastal town of Wollongong; where in 2016 she was the formal Artist in Residence at the Wollongong Art Gallery. Working primarily in painting and installation Tania explores themes of religion, childhood, the feminine, occult and myths in her works.

(Photo of Tania and some of her works, below)

With Tania having just finished up her aforementioned residency and her first music video for up and coming rockers ‘The Dark Clouds’, now is the perfect time to get to know Tania and her art by reading the Art Talk interview, 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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QWUX is an artist, designer, curator, editor and all round Australian art scene king. QWUX is firmly part of the ADD generation of artists – forever working on multiple projects, in multiple mediums, all imbued with QWUX’s unique talent.

And QWUX’s main themes? Well that’s easy – Japanese culture, food, computer games, pop art, designer toys, and being an all round legend! Hell, QWUX is such a good dude that when asked what he would most like to be remembered for – he simply answered: “Helping people.”

(Some art by QWUX, below)

With QWUX recently revealing his new project – ‘STUPIDkid’ – and having recently arrived back home in Australia after spending time in Japan, 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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Jonathan McBurnie aka ‘King of Nails’ is an Australian artist and writer who first came to our attention thanks to an introduction by fellow artist and our dear friend Ella Condon. We were immediately drawn to both Jonathan himself and his work as both are a perfect mix of high brow and pop-as-fuck.

Jonathan works with classic fine art tropes such as the landscape, the female nude and the portrait. Juxtaposed against the ephemera of popular culture – Objects such as children’s toys, fast cars and giant blow up animals. People such as Bob Dylan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jackson Pollock and Ned Kelly. Fictional characters such as The Phantom and Batman. Everyday language and text forms such as signs, and pamphlets – to name but a few recurring tropes.

Put simply? All of Jonathan’s work is high technical, full of beautiful and varied linework, immediately eye catching and pulsating with eros. We just can’t get enough!

(Photo of Jonathan McBurnie below)

With Jonathan about to have his first career survey show in November this year, and making the initial steps into the designer toy world, 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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