‘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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• Produced By = Oltretomba Made in Hell (Not Positive About Country – But Figure Was Shipped from an Address in the Netherlands)
• Figure Name(s) = Oltretomba
• Release Details = ‘Holiday Vomit’  series of mixed vinyl (Unknown Run Quantity)
• Material = Soft Vinyl
• Country of Production = Unknown (But not made in Japan – Going off Smell + Quality)
• Height = 29cm
• No of Parts = 5 (Head, 2 arms + 2 legs)
• Released = Dec 28th 2016
• Sculpt Debut = 6th November 2016
• Release Price = 133 Euro (Shipping Included)
• Genre = Art Toy / Kaiju

Read the full review and pics after the jump…

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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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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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Russ Morland is a Canadian based artist and tattooist who became possessed by the seemingly benign creature LURK years ago. Scientists are not sure of the origin of LURK. Or whether it brings ill will or positivity to the world. All that is known is that when under the power of LURK there is no more Russ. No more tattooing. Only LURK.

(Picture below of some art by LURK)

With LURK showing no sign of abandoning Russ’ body and psyche any time soon, now is the perfect time to get to know this artistically prevalent entity from parts unknown, 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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