ToyCyte sale!
We've slashed our prices for a lot of our toys to make room for more customs! Go get some amazing deals today at our store !
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This weekend saw the opening of a custom toy show based around the imagery of Japanese toys. It Came From Skullbrain profiled the talent (much of it local) from the Skullbrain forum, an off-shoot of San Francisco's Super7, which hosted the event. The night was already off to a great start when a good old Japantown-style fight broke out in front of Super7 shortly before doors. But to truly appreciate your toy art in the most surreal way possible, you need four guys in full KISS regalia.
Continue reading...Friday, April 17, 2009
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Leecifer, “toy ruiner,” just sent in these great photos of the latest figures on which he’s reaked his artistic havoc. I don’t think anyone yet suggeted Super7’s Gorilla Biscuits figures as part of his current custoMONDAY contest, but no doubt someone’s dream blend of hardcore, punk, art and toy will collide Saturday when Leecifer’s latest [...]
Continue reading...Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Leecifer has joined the unholy ranks of spectacular spooky custoMONDAY artists. His splattered signature is all over these dunnys and ghostland figures. Sure, you might be able to win one, but what are the odds of that? So get one now! These are only available at ToyCyte Store!
Continue reading...Monday, April 13, 2009
If you live in the Bay Area, or have gone to any art toy show in the last few years, you know the guy who signs his emails "Cheetos and Beer." His name is Leecifer, a nickname he's been living with since toddler times. But the artist otherwise known as Lee Gajda has grown into the moniker. And here at ToyCyte, we've been following his exploits for a year now. Leecifer excels at turning a run-of-the-mill platform toy into a splatter-painted and dry-brushed piece of original art. It's not unusual for someone to say, "I don't really care for X platform, but I want it because Lee painted it." With Leecifer's most recent customs for the I.W.G. Humans Beware show now sold-out and his original resin figure/canvas set included in the latest London Phillips de Pury auction, the dude is hotter than his nicknaming folks could ever have imagined. Leecifer's been a friend of ToyCyte since the beginning, and we've had this custoMONDAY in the works for a while, so without further ado...want to win a ToyCyte-colored custom Dunny or Ghostland figure by Leecifer? You'll need to enter The Contest.
Continue reading...Saturday, April 11, 2009
Last night, a variety of homegrown Insurgents Wilderness Gruppo mutations hit San Francisco’s Rocket World for the first I.W.G. custom show. If you’ve never been to Rocket World (aka T.A.D. Gear), you owe it to yourself to visit Patrick Ma’s haven for high end adventure gear and designer toys. Enter the garage doors to one [...]
Continue reading...Wednesday, April 8, 2009
We’re having a Leecifer kind of day over here, since the guy’s producing new toy customs faster than we can even write about them. Most recently, Leecifer’s lending his ultra-dense, drybrush-and-spatter painting skillz to the upcoming I.W.G. show on April 10th, by way of this Evil Knievel daredevil rhino, which he cryptically calls ‘EvilIWGKnocerosRidein’’. I know [...]
Continue reading...Wednesday, April 8, 2009
As we approach April 18th at SF’s Super7 shop, the imagery of Japanese monstrosities is becoming increasingly prevalent and perverted from their already perverse origins, and that’s a pretty awesome thing. Take, for example, this trio of pseudo-kaiju from El Maz. Their deliciously flecked colors, their glossy exteriors, and of course, their many tentacles. It’s hardly [...]
Continue reading...Monday, March 23, 2009
Its not that big of a deal? Wrong…its a BIG HAIRY DEAL! This past Saturday, Super7 unleashed their latest customs on the world at the “BIG Hairy Deal!” event. The artists who had work on display were Leecifer and Joshua Herbolsheimer, who were both in attendance! I even got the chance to get into the backroom and do [...]
Continue reading...Wednesday, March 18, 2009
This is really just plain awesome. San Francisco’s own Leecifer is in a realm of his own: painting up equal and prolific blends of eastern and western toys (as well as 2D terrain), being chosen for inclusion in international auctions and still managing to stay a really nice “cheetos and beer” kind of guy. He [...]
Continue reading...Friday, March 13, 2009
It was in August of 2006 that David Rodriguez of the now-defunct Rocket Pop put out a call for artists to participate in The Bomb Project – a show in Denton, Texas that would focus on customized BUDs from Jamungo. At the time, Rocket Pop was a new, small online shop that had a lot [...]
Continue reading...Wednesday, March 11, 2009
DrilOne is curating a custom vinyl show based off the Rocketworld I.W.G. figures. This is the first time a show like this has ever been thrown on this platform. 80+ artists are customizing blanks for the exhibit. Scroll down for a complete list of partipating artists and more info about the show. Humans Beware: The [...]
Continue reading...Tuesday, March 10, 2009
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The Phillips de Pury & Co auction returns to London next Saturday, March 14th, and we are really happy for local artist, Leecifer, whose Malpas Moe flew across the pond to join the proceedings here. Earlier this year, Leecifer sent me these images of Malpas, “a fallen angel who can appear as a crow.” Now [...]
Continue reading...Saturday, February 28, 2009
Wondercon isn't about toys; it's about comics: superheroes, Star Wars, cosplayers and comics. Semantics aside, Comic-Con has more toys. That said, we scoured Wondercon in San Francisco's Moscone Center for several hours seeking out the toys. We were happily surprised by who and what we found. Read on for vinyl, plush, plastic and resin--from prototypes without websites all the way to finished convention exclusives. Click each heading to go to a full post about the subject with tons more photos. Enjoy the tour.
Continue reading...Saturday, February 28, 2009
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There was not a ton of designer toys at Wondercon, and if you happened to be of the collecting ilk that enjoys Japanese monster toys, there was only one stall to visit: San Francisco’s own Super7. Glenn and master customizer (and future custoMONDAY alum) Leecifer were representing for the kaiju set with a small array [...]
Continue reading...Wednesday, February 11, 2009
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Not sure how this happened, but it’s been a few months since I’ve crossed physical or virtual paths with San Francisco-based artist and customizer Lee Gajda aka Leecifer. During this unintentional hiatus, Lee has been busy. A quick check of his Flickr brings up some sweet customs like this incredible take on Usugrow’s Rebel Ink. [...]
Continue reading...Friday, October 31, 2008
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Many moons ago, when ToyCyte first kicked off, Jeremi Rimel contacted me with his Think-UP Do-It-Yourself Bust. He sent me a Think-UP, we chatted about some things and then we lost touch. In the meantime, busts got big. Recently I saw Doktor A's Think-UP creation at the Monster Art Rally, Jeremi got back in touch, and here's the lost interview (now found), right in time for Halloween. Think-UP is produced by Jeremi's company, Miscreation Toys. The white vinyl busts are 8 inches tall and come in standard and "with tentacles" editions. Master monster-makers like Bob Conge have customized this unique platform. The humanoid head/creature base is ripe for the rendering. Now without further ado, here's Jeremi...and Happy Halloween.
Continue reading...Monday, October 27, 2008
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This weekend saw the opening of the MAD*L Citizens Show at Lift in Detroit. With 10-inch MAD*L customs by Doktor A, Huck Gee, Sket One, kaNO, Brandt Peters, Kathie Olivas, Cris Rose, Slobot, Cameron Tiede, Phetus, Brent Nolasco, Andrew Bell, Angry Woebots, Phu!, Tristan Eaton, Julie West, Reactor 88, Leecifer and more, I’m waiting on [...]
Continue reading...Monday, October 27, 2008
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The first stage of the two-part auction for the custom pieces was held during the exhibition and was a huge success. The second, online auction phase began Friday with many additional groundbreaking custom works available for bidding. The ART + ACTION online auction will be held for one week only on eBay, with proceeds going [...]
Continue reading...Friday, October 17, 2008
The 2008 US Presidential Election will be a historic and groundbreaking event. While the race and gender of the candidates is unprecedented, so is the huge outpouring of art. The latter can be seen tonight in NYC at ToyTokyo's The Showroom where Jailbreak Toys presents an evening of customized Barack Obama action figures by Brin Berliner, Damion Silver, Bigfoot, Denise Despirito, Leecifer, kaNO, Brent Nolasco, Matt Hawkins, Brian Colin, Dionysus Cho, Erick Scarecrow Jeaux Janovsky and more. Regardless of how you lean politically, a show of this nature has never before been attempted. All figures will be for sale with proceeds going to fund the Campaign for Change. You can look back at all the coverage of ART + ACTION = Obama 08 here, or scroll down for our exclusive pictorial. ToyCyte's NYC correspondent will be bringing us coverage of the show, so stay tuned. Tonight's event begins at 7PM EST. There's a rumor that Amber, the Obama Girl, may make an appearance. Wish I could be there.
Continue reading...Monday, October 13, 2008
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Leecifer sent me these great turnarounds of his custom Obama action figure. With his third eye and patriotic suit, Obama is ready to face the nation…of toy fans at Friday’s Toy Tokyo show. First the toy fans, then the world. If toy collectors–full of opinion, complaints, enthusiasm and unsolicited advice–aren’t a good microcosmic representation for [...]
Continue reading...Monday, October 13, 2008
This was one of the most "pure fun" art shows I've seen in a while. It must be pretty hard to hang plush in a gallery setting, but they pulled it off with good lighting and a cool backdrop. Credit to Katie and G1988 for an awesome show and inviting me in early to take pictures. Art toys abounded, but no one was taking themselves too seriously between the spooky muzak and Kaiju Big Battel's psychedelic presence. It's also always great to see (in person) art by international designers I write about (like Tim Tsui, the inimitable Doktor A and DGPH to name a few), and it's also nice to watch local artists like Leecifer and Anna Chambers have their pieces snatched up quickly. For those who couldn't make it (the show runs through November 1st), enjoy a virtual tour below.
Continue reading...Friday, October 10, 2008
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Here's the current lineup of Art + Action = Obama 08: Bigfoot, Brent Nolasco, Brian Colin, Brin Berliner, Cope2, Erick Scarecrow,Indie, Leecifer, MARS-1, Peat Wollaeger, Phetus, pocketwookie, Spok-spok, Suckadelic, Voltaire...
Continue reading...Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Custom plush and vinyl monsters are coming to G1988 in San Francisco TONIGHT. There will be an opening reception from 7-10PM with at least a handful of artists present. The furry frightfest is a global gallery from Hong Kong, The Netherlands, Germany, Australia and beyond. Monsters were created by Brandt Peters, Leecifer, Dan Goodsell, Tim Tsui, Kathie Olivas, kaNO, Jesse Hernandez...BE THERE!
Continue reading...Tuesday, September 16, 2008
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When I was a kid, we had a school project similar to this concept. I’m always a fan of the points at which words and visuals intersect. Also, I find that certain letters lend themselves to colors and objects. The letter J is green. E’s tend to be blue. That sort of thing. Anybody [...]
Continue reading...Friday, September 5, 2008
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There are a bunch of custom shows competing to do some damage of the good kind as the 2008 year heads for its close. Making its entrance into the fray is the upcoming This B.U.D.’s For You show. Hero and Sound (of lovely Buffalo, NY) are hosting a one-of-a-kind custom show featuring 9-inch Jamungo Blow [...]
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Monday, April 20, 2009
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