‘Go Figure News’ is an art site focusing on art toys of all types. The site was founded in 2014 by American artist, theorist and curator TJ Norris. It hosts news, articles and thought pieces on everything art toy related – well worth bookmarking.

(Picture below of ‘GFN’ head honcho – Mr TJ Norris)

Well, as art toys are on the rise once again in general pop culture we felt it would be a good idea to have a chat with TJ about toys, life, art and ‘Go Figure News’ – read all about it in the Art Talk, below…

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The Soft Vinyl Sydney exhibition is the groundbreaking soft vinyl art toy show happening this weekend in Sydney, Australia. SVS is happening from the 21st and 22nd of January at the ‘Lord Gladstone’ pub in Sydney. Featuring over 30 artists from all over the world taking part. It will be a glorious sight to see. Weird monsters of all imaginable shapes, sizes forms and colors.

And… for the uninitiated soft vinyl is a subset of the general art toy scene. With the artists working in it making their own toys, doing customs of existing ones – or both. Sculptural pop art – to find out more about art toys and sofubi, check out the ‘Art Whore’ piece from last year: What Exactly Are Art Toys And How Can We Critique Them?.

So, with the SVS show happening in less than a week now is the perfect time to find out all about it, from the people involved, by reading the Art Talk interview, below…

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Nasty Neil of ‘Wasted Talent’ aka ‘WSTD TLNT’ is an American creative machine. A man known to the art world thanks to his sculptural works, most famously his varied collection of marijuana inspired works.

Neil, however, is no mere sculptor. He is a musician, chef, collaborator and all round art powerhouse. Constantly pushing himself and others he works with to achieve a new high with each release.

(Picture below of some Marijuana Medallions by ‘Wasted Talent’)

With a recent move back to his home state of New York after spending 6 months in Oregon, and with a big 2014 ahead, now is a great time to get to know Nasty Neil and ‘Wasted Talent’ by reading the Art Talk interview below…

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Lance aka ‘Renone’ of ‘Renone Labs’ is  a one man American design and art factory who has collaborated with too many artists to mention, all the while building up his own practice. A dedication that has led to the man being held in immensely high regard by the industry and fans alike.

(Picture below of the ‘Renone Labs’ Minion, in resin form)

Those at home may know ‘Renone’ best for his stickers and his reputation as a vandal. He has recently been getting his feet wet with his dive into the resin sculpture world with his resin pizza, minion and more.

Lance’s love for the scene has also seen him venture into publishing, with the release of his first book, ‘Artists of Instagram’ – featuring ‘Arrex‘, ‘Killer Bootlegs‘, ‘Motorbot‘, ‘Extratruckestrial‘ and ‘Astrosim‘.

With a huge reputation behind him, and lots of new ventures in the works, now is a perfect time to get to know Lance aka ‘Renone’ by reading the Art Talk below…

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Mr. Benny Kline of ‘Tenacious Toys‘ outta New York, USA is one of the many gods – most likely Thor – in the pantheon of the art-toy and new-pop-art spheres. A man who does all that he can both privately, and publicly to promote, grow and nurture the new pop art scene on a global level.

I could not think of any person more apt to be the first Shop Talk for ‘Art Whore‘.

Why? For all the reasons above, and because Benny is a man constantly living out his personal motto:

“Learn, evolve, reach. Do it all yourself. Don’t quit.”

(Picture below of one of the many ‘Tenacious Toys’ logos – this one by Sou John)

As man always on the move, and with his pulse well and truly attuned to the contemporary pop art scene, now is the right time to get to know Mr. Benny Kline of ‘Tenacious Toys’, by reading the Shop Talk, below…

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