Tristan Eaton's Custom Mini Cooper for Garage 419

Matt Farah of automotive video mag Garage 419 recently asked Tristan Eaton (Dunny Creator and all around bad-ass designer)  of Thunderdog Studios to trick out a Mini Cooper. The project was inspired by the BMW Art Project which turned out beautiful and amazingly expensive custom cars from 1975 to 1989.   Tris obliged with a custom-designed reflective vinyl wrap.  While it looks pretty sweet in daylight, it's crazy at night with the light bouncing off the graphics.   Now that's a custom! [Pics: garage419.com].  Just to really push this project over the top -- Garage 419 put together a great video detailing the process and the finished Mini Cooper.   

NVC and Tyson Summers - 'Killer' Moody Customs

Don't Cry Over Spilt Vinyl featuring custom versions of the Moody  from Bovinyl is going strong @ Pravus with a scheduled second opening on  Friday May 16th featuring a personal appearance by Moody creator Ted Stilson.  While there are lots of excellent pieces in the show, two 'killer' Moodys demand a special spotlight -- Bao and Spive's (NVC) Mad Cowboy (below) and Tyson Summers' Oderus (above).   Mad Cowboy features the meticuluous custom sculpting and deceptively realistic painting we've come to expect from NVC.  For Oderus, Tyson let it all 'hang out', literally, with his tribute to GWAR.  It's over-the-top with no apologies -- just like the band.  Click through for more pics of each custom.

Pravus Gallery
501 E. Roosevelt Street
Phoenix, Arizona

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Sket One - Snake Eyes @ CiRCA (5.9.08)

Sket One's Snake Eyes installation for the Kidrobot Room @ CiRCA in Toronto featuring eight custom Dunnys and Munnys opens this Friday evening.(5.9.08).  As you might guess from the flier and the "Clue" preview piece (below), Sket's picking up the board game theme he started with his Operation Munny from aways back.  Sket will also be making an appearance at Magic Pony on Saturday (5.10) from  7 - 9 PM as part of the store's vinyl trading party.

CiRCA
126 John Street
Toronto, Ontario M5V 2E3

Preview: Derailed @ Cardboard Spaceship (tonight)

Tonight's the night.  Derailed, a group show featuring custom All-City Style trains , opens tonight @ Cardboard Spaceship (5ish to 9 ish).  Here's our final preview -- featuring trains by Motorbot (above), Cameron Tiede, Luke Feldman and NC Winters.  Motorbot's really outdone himself this time with this  inspired Centipede design (complete with accordion style connectors + insect-like legs). 

Cardboard Spaceship
803 Pacific Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
831.227.9270

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Brent Nolasco for Down the Bunny Hole

Now this is nice.  Here's a look at Brent Nolasco's custom 10" Labbit for Down the Bunny Hole which opens at Rivet this Saturday, May 3rd 2008. This is one of the nicest 'kit-bashes' I've seen.  it's done very well and is tied together with Brent's  strong painting. The pieces all fit together naturally rather than sticking out as individual parts of other toys.   Beautiful. Click through for more pics.

Rivet Designer Toy and Art Gallery
1200 N. High St.
Columbus, OH 43201
614.294.8697

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Don't Cry Over Spilt Vinyl (5.2.08)

After the successful Moody Idols show in Canada, Moody creator Ted Stilson is bringing over 50 custom Moodys to the USA with Don't Cry Over Spilt Vinyl @ Pravus Gallery's new location.  The show will have two openings - an initial one on May 2nd (6-10 PM) and a second one which Ted will attend on May 16th (6-10 PM).  Don't Cry Over Spilt Vinyl will feature previously seen customs as well as new pieces.   Click through for a  preview of a small selection of the show's Moody customs.

Show artists include  Bil Betsovic, PlaysKewl, Cameron Tiede, Brent Nolasco, Doktor A, Sergey ‘Ironlung’ Safonov, Misha, Joseph Anderson, Erwin Weber, Shin Tanaka, Victor ‘Marka’ Quinonez, Jesse DeStasio, Tan-ki, Dan ‘Wavedog’ Fenelon, HideousBoi, Mark Bodnar, Jason Kochis, Nick Louma, Chris Ryniak, Mike Goodwin, Andrew Brandou, Roy Wasson Valle, DKR, Luster Kaboom, Jeremy Yocum, Seigenthaler, Brandon Sopinsky, Robert Browning, Darrin Maxwell, Ayako ‘Uamou’ Takagi, Arden Hill, Tyson Summers, Matt Connelly, Ted Stilson, Sarah Magera, RedGun, Tim McGinty, Matt Doughty, Jason Barnett, John McClay, Tony Shiau Nakanari,  Mike Mass, Jason Gonzalez, Koryn Woodward Wasson, Bunka, Attila Adorjany, Angela Bradley, Tim Hammell, Dr.BAO/NVC CREW, Khayne Tan,  Jenn Rourke, Aaron Keeling, Jeff Orriss, Erin & Kelly Carty, Trevor Zammit. 

Pravus Gallery
501 E. Roosevelt Street
Phoenix, Arizona

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Tim Tsui and Alice Chan - Live Qee Painting in Paris

Tim Tsui and Alice Chan were invited to paint on 60" Qees @ Galeries Lafayette in Paris over the past weekend.   The  department store invited five artists to paint on the giant Qees for their   Asiastic project focusing on Asian themes and culture.  Tim and Alice joined three French artists for the event.   Click through for more pics - enjoy.  Thanks to Tim for the great shots.

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Preview: Derailed (5.2.08)

Here's a look at several of the custom All City Style trains to be featured in the Derailed group show which opens this Friday, May 2nd at Cardboard Spaceship.   We have Jim Koch's wicked subway train turned phantom locomotive (above).  Click through for  long-time graff writer Scribe's 'piece' and Ryan Crippen (reactor88)'s totem-inspired train.   We'll drop another preview in a few days. 

Cardboard Spaceship
803 Pacific Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
831.227.9270

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Seen: Tokyoplastic King of the Monsters

The Tokyoplastic King of the Monsters show opened last night @ The Showroom NYC.  Thanks to Vincent of myplasticheart for snapping these shots of the custom 10" Geishas.  Drew and Sam of  Tokyoplastic  were there and brought along some really nice prints.  Click through to check out the pieces -- plenty of pics. The show runs through May 2nd -- stop by Toy Tokyo for access to the gallery.

The Showroom NYC
117 2nd Avenue (& 7th Street), 2nd floor
New York, NY 10003

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Triclops for Tokyoplastic King of Monsters (4.26)

The Zany Duo that is Triclops Studio went retro and rolled and kneaded their way as they created the Trilsbury Dough Boy custom for the Tokyoplastic King of Monsters show opening today -- Saturday (April 26th, 2008) from 7 to 11 PM @ The Showroom NYC.  Good Job! Inverting the Geisha worked really well --  wonder how long it took to see that possibility.    Click through for more pics  (including a neat making-of sequence) and be sure to go to the opening tomorrow if you're in NYC.

The Showroom NYC
117 2nd Avenue (& 7th Street), 2nd floor
New York, NY 10003

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Marka27 for Tokyoplastic show (4.26.08)

Marka27 created the Minigoddess of Death for the Tokyoplastic King of Monsters show opening this Saturday (April 26th, 2008) from 7 to 11 PM @ The Showroom NYC.  Starting with the innocent-looking 10" Tokyoplastic Geisha, Marka went dark with this slithering beauty complete with a headress of sound topping out at a whopping 17".   Click through for more pics and be sure to go to the opening tomorrow if you're in NYC.

The Showroom NYC
117 2nd Avenue (& 7th Street), 2nd floor
New York, NY 10003

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Derailed @ Cardboard Spaceship (5.2.08)

Custom bears, custom bunnys...  All well and good.  But, what ever happened to the 'urban' element...?  Derailed brings it all back with a group show featuring customized All City Style subway trains.  The show opens on May 2nd 2008 @ Cardboard Spaceship in Santa Cruz with a talented and diverse lineup (full list), including Jester whose train is shown below. Keep watching VP for several exclusive Derailed previews next week.

Cardboard Spaceship
803 Pacific Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
831.227.9270

Tim Tsui's Blue Blood Minci @ his Artoyz show (4.24.08)

As he's done with the two previous world stop tours, Tim Tsui will release a  limited-edition custom for his upcoming exhibition at Artoyz which opens on Thursday, April 24th 2008 (7 PM).  This Blue Blood Minci pays homage to the original giant robot and is limited to 20 pieces -- 15 at the show and 5 for his online store.  The Artoyz Blood Diamond Da Warrior will drop at the opening as well.  Look for the regular Da Warriors starting in early May -- more pics shortly.

Artoyz SG Paris
45 rue de l'arbre sec
75001 Paris, France
01 47 03 09 90

NYCC: Brent Nolasco's Blood Sweat and Tears @ mph (#866)

Top flight customizer Brent Nolasco will bring his Blood, Sweat and Tears to NYCC at the myplasticheart booth (#855).  Brent has flexed his customizing chops on Vivisect Playset minis and will be offering them in sets of 3 for $ 150 (only 4 sets available).  In addition he'll be offering a print limited to 13 pieces.  The items will be avaiable starting on Friday 4.18 from 3 PM.  Brent will be signing on Saturday (4.19) from 11 AM to Noon.

Huck Gee - Custom 8" Skullhead Dunnys (4.11)

Huck Gee is bringing back his now classic first Dunny (s1) with 10 custom hand-painted 8" Skullhead Dunnys.  While based on the original S1 design, Huck's made a change or two and as he says "If Mr. Lucas can do it, so can I".  The 8" custom Skullhead Dunny's go up for sale on Huck's Store this Friday (4.11.08) @ Noon PDT for $600 each.  Note: The 3" in the pic is for size comparison and nostalgia and is NOT included with the new 8" customs.  Click through for more pics.

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Down the Bunny Hole @ Rivet (5.3.08)

Down the Bunny Hole, a  custom 10" labbit group show,  opens on Saturday  May 3rd, 2008 at Rivet in Columbus, Ohio. Curated by Matthew Weekley of Vinyl Requiem, the show will feature customs from  Jenna Colby, Matt Weekley, Brian Covey, Doktor A, Mar Hernendez "malota", Annie Owens, Kathie Olivas, Andrew Bell, Chris Ryniak, Motorbot, Adrian Pina "APina", Julie West, J. Neth, Jimmy Pickering, Kari Byron, Tammy Haye "TMH", Frank Kozik, Sharon Bell, Brent Nolasco "B", "Coolvader" Matt Morris, Amanda Spayd, Leecifer, Mike Maas, Okkle.  Should be great.  Dok's piece on the flier looks amazing as always as does Chris Ryniak's  back to nature custom below.

Rivet Designer Toy and Art Gallery
1200 N. High St.
Columbus, OH 43201
614.294.8697

Technobabble Preview - Nakanari's Toys

Nakanari and Dave Quiles'  Technobabble is right around the corner with the opening on  Friday, March 28th, 2008 (6-9 PM) @ myplasticheartnyc.  Last week we showed you some of both artists' 2D work, now here's a look at some of Nakanari's figures for the show including a limited run of resin Misfits and several customs. The black Misfits come two to a set (Naka and Nari) for $60/set.  Enjoy.

myplasticheartnyc
210 Forsyth St.
New York, New York 10002
646.290.686

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Kano for Toys! @ Gallery 1988 (4.1.08)

KaNo pays props to his Airness, the legendary #23, with a custom Hot Wheels van for the upcoming Toys! show. Be sure to catch the opening at  Gallery 1988 LA in a little more than a week on Tuesday, April 1st 2008  (7-10 PM) celebrating childhood playtime and the 40th Anniversary of Hot Wheels with   customized Hot Wheels Vans from 40+ of the top customizers around (full list).  The show will also feature original paintings from a large group of artists including some who customized mini Vans.

Gallery 1988
7020 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90038
323.937.7088

Jesse Hernandez - Custom Minigod (4.3.08)

The release event and art show for Marka27's MG-2 Mexico goes down on Thursday, April 3rd 2008 (7-11 PM) @ Munky King Melrose.  Guest Artist Jesse Hernandez is gearing up for the show.  He infused all of his Aztec inspired skills into this killer custom MG-1 Brazil.  The design pops off the black base and flows around the large Minigod shape nicely including the 'third eye' on the speaker dome.  Keep watching VP for additional show updates including a look at the Marka27 x Jesse Hernandez collabo print. Click through for more pics of Jesse's custom MG-1.

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Koji Harmon's Glow Gala

Koji Harmon has created a glowing horde  of sweet custom Kaiju figures from Marusan, M1 and Gargamel   for his Glow Gala offering. From the M1 Mandas above to a large variety of figures there's something here for all you glow fans.  Koji will make them available to his mailing list sometime next week.  If you're interested, shoot him some mail -- cometdebris [at] gol [dot]com    For more pics check out his loaded Flickr -- lots of GID goodness. So if you're looking for custom Kaiju, check it out.

Buff Monster's Newest Kaiju Customs

Kaiju has consumed Buff Monster.  It's on his mind more than anything else (more or less...).  He's having a blast collecting and customizing the little vinyl monsters and it shows.  Here's a look at his newest batch of seven customs including five GID's.  Expect to see more GID ones once he tracks down more GID spray paint ;-) The Deathra  is a preview of a limited custom series he's working on for his upcoming  Born of the Abyss show at Giant Robot NY (4.19.08).  Click through for more pics (including the non-GIDs).
 

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NVC - Mekakawa: The Roller Terminator

NVC - Dr. Bao and Spive were commissioned to create a Transformers inspired custom MAD*L.  After looking through a Transformers encyclopedia of sorts they decided to create a Samurai inspired design.  While NVC often sculpts designs as they go, the exacting nature of this design necessitated a detailed sketch first.  During the process Bao realized that the figure look a lot like their upcoming Ishikawa the Roller limited-edition figure.  So the two decided this custom should be called Mekakawa: The Roller Terminator and gave him a roller (made from one of the brushes used on the piece) as an alternate accessory to his sword.  Bad ass. 

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Rock 'n Roll Fantasy - Variations on Ojo Rojo

Martin Ontiveros has invited a few of his friends to create interpretations of his Ojo Rojo character for his Rock 'n Roll Fantasy show which opens tonight (2.1.08) from 6 to 9 PM @ Grass Hut.   Thanks to Grass Hut here's a preview of several of the artist pieces for those of you who aren't lucky enough to live in Portland.  The guest pieces range from paintings to custom versions of the very first edition (clear white) of Martin's new larger (5.5") Ojo Rojo figure  from Gargamel which makes its US debut during the opening. Martin also customized his baby and the result is Ojo Stardust (above).  Many more pictures after the jump.

Grass Hut Gallery
811 E. Burnside
Portland, OR

 

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MARS-1's Custom Invisible Plan @ Tinyshop

MARS-1 hand-painted several of his Invisible Plan figures for Tinyshop (located within Double Punch in SF).  Tinyshop is offering these  signed customs as online exclusives for $50 each -- not available in the store.  For inquiries, send email to store[at]doublepunch[dot]com.