Croxidised

David Horvath is an American artist and designer best known for co-creating the iconic character Uglydoll alongside his wife, Sun-Min Kim. The Uglydoll franchise, which debuted in 2001, quickly gained popularity for its quirky, imperfect characters that resonated with fans of all ages. The dolls are characterized by their distinctive features, such as uneven eyes, mismatched ears, and unique body shapes, embracing a theme of embracing imperfections and celebrating individuality. Horvath’s work extends beyond Uglydolls, including collaborations with various brands and the creation of other collectible characters. His designs often emphasize a playful, whimsical aesthetic, with characters that blend cute and unconventional elements. His art appeals to those who appreciate humor, creativity, and a sense of warmth in the face of imperfection. Self-produced art toys are designer collectibles created and manufactured independently by the artist or small teams without the backing of a large toy company or mass-market brand. These toys are often highly personal, artistic expressions and are usually made in limited runs. Key Characteristics include independent creation where the artist is in control of the entire process from concept, sculpting, and painting to production and packaging. These are usually made in small batches, often 10–100 pieces, which adds to their rarity, made using materials like resin, sofubi (Japanese soft vinyl), or 3D-printed components. Raised in Dronfield in the United Kingdom, Squink! grew up on a diet of popcorn, candy, and Jayce and the wheeled warriors. Qualified as a graphic designer but also a keen painter from a very early age, he became a toy collector with the launch Of the Toy2R Qee, which eventually lead to customising everything he could get his hands on! A head filled with characters in need of being set free finally had an outlet. Heavily influenced by japanese culture and 80’s cartoons, he claims to put a little bit of his soul into each character he creates, giving them all a unique personality, fueled by coffee, good smelly cheese and shoegaze. Gathering inspiration from the toys and natural forms he surrounds himself with. Squink! has more recently branched out into canvas paintings, and also limited edition screen printed t-shirts.