CUSTOM TOY
Untitled
Item Details
Artist
Platform
Venue
Event
About this Artist
Frank Kozik was born in Madrid, Spain in 1962 . At the age of 14 he moved to the United States and settled in Austin, Texas. Credited with single handedly reviving the “lost” art of the concert poster, his creative career rose largely out of his enthusiasm for Austin’s growing underground punk rock scene in the mid-eighties. Starting with black and white flyers for friends’ bands posted on telephone poles, his reputation grew as an artist whose work was graphically compelling as well as culturally gripping. Kozik is based in San Francisco, California, where he produces artwork, toys and graphic design. He formerly managed his own record label, Man’s Ruin Records (1995-2001). Under which, he released over 220 singles and full length albums including the first Queens of the Stone Age single. He has produced artwork for a diverse range of musicians such as Pearl Jam, the Butthole Surfers, Green Day, Neil Young, Sonic Youth, the Melvins and many more. In 1996, he directed Soundgarden’s “Pretty Noose” music video. In 2001 Kozik left the music business and devoted himself full time to fine art and the newly emerging Vinyl Art Toy movement. Since 2001 he has designed over 300 separate toys and art The toy is based on a rabbit figure with distinctive tubular ears. The origin of the name Dunny came from a combination of street slang and one of the early "Devil Bunny" prototypes. The Dunny is sold in four sizes - 3", 5", 8" and 20". The toy has three points of articulation; a 360 degree rotational head and two arms. An artist card or sticker is also included with the 3" Dunny from a series. Most 3" Dunnys and some 8" Dunnys are normally sold as "blind assortment"; the figure is packaged inside a sealed foil wrapper, such that the buyer is not able to see which figure and accessories they are buying. Sealing the figure prevents people from opening and peeking in the boxes and buying only the figures they want. Most Dunnys are packaged inside a clear plastic bag in addition to the foil wrapper. In the second-hand market, this assures the buyer that the article was never on display and is in a "new" condition. With the success of vinyl toys as a medium for expression, many fans and artists have put their own design onto blank Dunnys. "Kidrobot is proud to present The Dunny Show, an exhibition which features the work of more than 50 important artists and designers with backgrounds in fine art, graffiti, industrial design, and illustration, in a unique exhibition of customized Dunny toys that will be held at the Visionaire Gallery. Dunny, which is a 20-inch tall action figure made of soft, smooth vinyl, was conceived and designed by Kidrobot toy designer Tristan Eaton and owner/President Paul Budnitz to be a “toy with attitude” that could be customized in a broad variety of styles by diverse artists working in different mediums. Among the artists and designers who will personalize a Dunny for the exhibition are world-famous graffiti artists Doze Green,Tilt and Fafi, and Seen; renowned toy designers Jason Siu and Pete Fowler; illustrators including Disney’s Teacher’s Pet creator Gary Baseman; graphic artists including Hunter Gatherer; fashion designers Diane von Furstenberg,and Heatherette, and a number of fine artists, including Alexis Rockman and Jessica Stockholder. Design studio participants include artists from PDI/Dreamworks Animation Studios and Steuben Crystal. And many more. All of the Dunny toys created for this exhibition will be for sale at the Visionaire Gallery. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Hetrick-Martin
Production Details
- Released date n/a
- Retail Price n/a
- Height 20.00"
- Width n/a
- Edition 1
- Ratio n/a

