We all know that the value of art, just like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. As long as there is a captive market, anything that artists and companies can produce will have some value. The more desirable the item is perceived by its target clientele, the better the price it can command. The more exclusive the release, the more people would want it, and its price can double or triple in the secondary market.
One such phenomenon that has taken the art community by storm is urban art vinyl toys. Among the most popular in the community is the work of artist and designer Brian Donnelly, otherwise known to his followers as KAWS. His figures are highly sought-after, and although some of the toys sell for as little as $15, his collaborations with Medicom, Disney and Uniqlo can sell for huge money. Auction house Christie’s has confirmed that some of his work has sold for as much as $2 million.
Urban vinyl art toys
Urban vinyl art toys gained traction in the art community thanks to hypebeasts, social media influencers, and celebrities spending serious cash on such collectibles. These art toys, a far cry from the mass-produced but still sought-after poseable toys, are independently designed by the artist. They also typically have a limited release as they’re produced by small, boutique factories contracted by the artist to ensure quality. Successful, in-demand toy artists also rely on social media platforms to drum up interest in the latest drops of their art toys, normally selling out pre-release. In the secondary market, their values tend to inflate as those who manage to cop them re-sell them to those who wish to have them at a huge profit.
Beyond KAWS
Although KAWS is one of the most famous designers of art toys, he’s got serious competition. Medicom, one of his collaborators, also produces Bearbricks, which started as a freebie to participants in the World Character Convention 12 in Tokyo. These toys usually are seven centimeters tall (100%), and their heights are generally tagged as percentages (50%, 70%, 400%, and 1000%). They also come in blind boxes with no indication whatsoever about which theme they are.
KAWS also created KAWS Companion featuring the likeness of Mickey Mouse in his distinctive style. The production run was limited to 500 pieces in three colorways, making them highly desirable. He continues to produce different iterations with sizes ranging from the small ones to larger-than-life sculptures that go for massive amounts of money.
Renowned Japanese artist and designer Takashi Murakami also jumped on the bandwagon, coming up with the colorful and whimsical Mr. DOB, a sharp-toothed creation that changes his appearance. Another notable artist, Ron English, has turned heads with the addition of his signature skull grin on characters such as the Teletubbies, Mario, and other comic characters into his toys.
Conclusions
With more and more young artists trying to make a name for themselves in the toy game, urban vinyl art toys are here to stay. However, choose wisely which ones to collect as their values may fluctuate depending on the market forces.
Photo Attribution:
1st and featured image from https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-sitting-on-the-foot-of-a-giant-mouse-statue-5509766/
2nd image from https://www.pexels.com/photo/focus-photo-of-super-mario-luigi-and-yoshi-figurines-163036/
