Boy with bear hood, beanie

MADL is a designer art toy platform created by Jeremy “MAD” Madl, one of the pioneers of the urban vinyl toy movement. First released in 2002, MADL figures are known for their bold, blocky shape, clean lines, and graffiti-inspired aesthetics. They were among the first American-designed vinyl toys to gain popularity, bridging the gap between street art, hip-hop culture, and designer collectibles. The MAD*L figure typically has a distinctive angular form with a broad head and a compact body, providing a great canvas for artists to customize. Over the years, the platform has featured numerous limited-edition releases, artist collaborations, and hand-painted customs, making it a highly sought-after collectible in the art toy scene. Kathie Olivas is an internationally exhibited multi-media artist from New Mexico. Through her current body of work, the Misery Children, she explores society’s insatiable desire to assign ‘cuteness’ and our discomfort with the unknown. A dark blend of early American portraiture set in post apocalyptic times, Kathie’s paintings and custom toys are a satirical look at how fear affects our sense of reality. One of the central questions raised in Kathie’s work is that of ‘what if’: what if these ‘cute’ creatures had their own agenda? Are they attune to something beyond our understanding, or are we simply too cowardly to acknowledge it? Are their misshapen limbs and plated mouths a deformation from living in a desolate wasteland,or perhaps an adaptation for protection? The Misery Children are meant to evoke a nostalgic reaction that reflects isolation, fear and an uncertainty, yet they also act as empowered alter egos. While these characters explore their new lonely worlds, they double as our narrators. They guide us through their reality as they experience it and yet, even in their company, we are granted no reassurance.