ToyCyte: Toy Culture Collected

One hundred re-imagined Darth Vader helmets are set to complete The Vader Project.The iconic Darth Vader helmet is once-again rendered by some of today’s hottest underground and pop surrealist painters, artists and designers. This leg of the tour makes its museum premiere and will be on display February 13th through May 3rd at The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

The Vader Project is curated by Dov Kelemer & Sarah Jo Marks of DKE Toys. Kelemer and Marks gathered 100 contemporary artists and gave them a 1:1 scale authentic prop replica of the actual Darth Vader helmet used in the STAR WARS™ films. Each helmet served as a blank slate for the artists to paint, design, mash up and customize.

Featuring work by Shag, Peter Kuper, Attaboy, Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, Dalek, Ron English, Jeff Soto, Michelle Valigura, Frank Kozik, Wade Lageose, Joe Ledbetter, Alex Pardee, Suckadelic, Cameron Tiede, Michelle Valigura,  Mister Cartoon, Marc Ecko, Amanda Visell and many more, The Vader Project provided an opportunity for artists to use one of the most iconic pop culture characters in film history as their canvas.

“It’s because of trailblazing artists like Andy Warhol that The Vader Project can even exist today. We couldn’t be more honored to be showcasing The Vader Project at the Warhol,” says Kelemer.

The Vader Project originally premiered at Star Wars Celebration IV in Los Angeles in May 2007.  From there it traveled to Star Wars Celebration Europe in London in June 2007.  July 2007 brought 10 new helmets to the Star Wars Pavilion at the famed San Diego Comi-Con International.  Then in July 2008, 13 Japanese artists joined forces with the existing Vader Project when their helmets premiered at Star Wars Celebration Japan.

Dov Kelemer and Sarah Jo Marks are co-curators of The Vader Project and co-founders of DKE Toys, one of the largest designer vinyl and art-toy distributors in the world, exclusively representing over 100 companies, artists, and designers. Kelemer started the business selling Star Wars memorabilia more than 15 years ago.  With The Vader Project he has finally found a way to meld both his passions.  Marks divides her time between managing DKE art exhibitions and all DKE promotions including STUFFED:  a plush food show.

For further questions, to discuss interview opportunities or for press photos please call DKE Toys at 818.765.3500.

You can check out Tristan Eaton’s Vader Helmet here.