Designer Toys, Art & Pop Culture

February Exhibit: Brain Killer & Gang

One of the many joys of showing art is watching an artist grow and change and, once in awhile, emerge.

This month, we feature an artist that we've known for most of the time we've had Rotofugi — as a matter of fact, we've known Brain Killer since before he was Brain Killer! It's been an absolute joy watching our friend evolve into a skilled muralist and painter, and it is an honor to be hosting their very first solo(-ish) exhibit!

Joining Brain Killer, at their invitation, are six additional Chicago-based artists: Shawnimals, Angel Onofre, Don Mega, Alisa Duda, China Cat 663, and (Sub)urban Warrior.

Join us in celebrating and supporting local artists the evening of Saturday February 17, 6-8pm for an Opening Reception with music by Bryson K. BYOB.

Bugz and Crypts
New Works by Brain Killer & Gang
February 17-March 10, 2024
Open 10am-6pm Daily

Opening Reception
Saturday, February 17, 6-8pm
Music by Bryson K
BYOB

To be notified when works from this exhibit are available for online purchase signup at https://previews.rotofugi.com

About the Artist

Brain Killer is a Chicago-based creative director and multimedia producer working in advertising. When he’s not making commercials he’s creating his special brand of lowbrow art or pop surrealism, depending on how fancy he’s feeling that day.

Originally started as an experimental film project, Brain Killer has moved from creating videos under the moniker and transitioned it into a personal outlet for design, painting, and mural work. But who knows? Maybe those weird little videos might creep back soon!

Brain Killer is heavily influenced by “geek culture” including sci-fi, horror, video games, animation and comic books — themes that are evident throughout his work.

January Exhibit: Betso!

We're kicking off a new year of exhibits with a solo show by an artist we've long admired...it's Betso!

Betso, also known as Bil BetsOviC, is a name that is probably really familiar to you if you've been around the designer toy scene for long. A self-taught artist from Las Vegas (currently based in Salt Lake City, Utah) with interests in cartoons, graffiti, and animals, Betso started appearing in custom toy shows in 2006 and has consistently produced some amazing customs for the last 18 years. A design by Betso, based on one of his customs, was featured in Kidrobot's 2011 Dunny Series.

For the past several years Betso has focused primarily on traditional media and murals (along with an occasional custom toy) and has been exploring various aspects of pop culture icons in an evolution of style and technique that has become increasingly abstract. For his solo show with us, Betso is presenting "Full Circle," a series of 38 acrylic and resin on wood paintings (all circular) that feature his most ambitious abstractions of pop culture icons to date!

This series seems, to us, to be as much about about exploring the style and visual iconography associated with cartoon characters as it is about the characters themselves — the result is a really mesmerizing series of fun new works that look like they could be cartoon characters from another world — perhaps one that is fond of hallucinogenics, lol!
 


Full Circle
New Works by Betso
January 13-February 11, 2024
Open 10am-6pm Daily

Please Note: We are currently behind on online listings for our gallery exhibits and, as such, there will not be an online preview for this exhibit...however, if you sign up at previews.rotofugi.com you *will* receive an email notification when works from this and our previous three exhibits are available for online purchase.


December Exhibit: Ali Six

Ali Six is one of those homegrown talents we just love to see! A multidisciplinary creator working in a whole range of mediums, Ali Six is a self-taught artist best known for his Richie the Tanuki/Raccoon character that is frequently seen on the streets of Chicago — and more recently as self-produced vinyl and plush figures!

We are excited to be presenting a new exhibit featuring original works by Ali Six, plus 10 custom Richie the Tanuki vinyl figures by Killabunz, Birdmilk, Neen, Korkox, Elloo, Poncho, Suga, Face, Verloe, and Belowkey!

The show will be open and available for sales Saturday, December 9 beginning at 10am, with online sales to follow in the coming week. Sign up for first online access at http://previews.rotofugi.com.

Join us this Saturday evening, 6-8pm, for the opening reception and groove to a live DJ set by Sean Doe while you browse the art, chat with the artist, or check out the rest of the store. Free soft drinks provided, BYOB.

Clouded
New Works by Ali Six
plus Richie the Tanuki Vinyl Customs
December 9. 2023-January 7, 2024

Opening Reception
Saturday, December 9, 6-8pm
with a live DJ set by Sean Doe

About the Artist

"My name is Nikko Locander otherwise known as Ali Six. I am a multi medium artist born and raised in Humboldt Park Chicago. Since I was a child I ventured with my imagination to create cartoons, and in high school painting the streets of Chicago. After realizing there was more to art than just graffiti I combined what I learned through spray paint and my love of cartoons to create Richie the Raccoon. I use Richie to liven up the streets of Chicago and around the world with murals. Throughout my journey I have taught myself how to graphic design, create rugs, tattoo, wheat paste, spray paint, make toys, acrylic paint, and hand sculpt."

October Exhibit: Nick & Lindsay DiFabbio

It's October and that means two things: it's officially spooky season (yay!) and our friends Nick and Lindsay DiFabbio (aka Cherry Moth Cake) are back with a new art exhibit!

But that's not ALL! For more than the last year Nick and Lindsay have been developing, designing, and play-testing a new card game featuring their art called Blessed Blade of the Badlands. Their exhibit in October 2022 introduced us to the Badlands and many of the characters, and this Saturday is the official debut and first release of the card game!

Produced in an edition of just 300 sets, this limited release will be your first opportunity to get your very own set of BBotB cards (before the full project is Kickstarted). Be the first to clear the obstacles, obtain the blade, and RULE THE BADLANDS!


Join us this Saturday, October 14, from 10am to 6pm for the opening of the Blessed Blade of the Badlands 2 exhibit, the release of the card game, and a pop-up shop with pins, prints, and more by Cherry Moth Cake! Nick and Lindsay will be at the store all day...swing by and play a few rounds!

Blessed Blade of the Badlands 2
New Works by Nick & Lindsay DiFabbio
October 14-November 5, 2023

Cherry Moth Cake Pop-Up & BBotB Release
Saturday, October 14, 10am-6pm

There will not be an online preview for this exhibit — online sales will happen in the week following the exhibit opening. If you're unable to attend in person make sure you sign up for our Gallery Previews email list at previews.rotofugi.com for updates.

The exhibit will be open for viewing daily 10am-6pm, October 14 through November 5 at Rotofugi, 2780 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago and will be viewable at gallery.rotofugi.com as soon as we can get it ready!


September Exhibit: Jeremy Fish

We are incredibly excited to be welcoming San Francisco artist and encased meats enthusiast Jeremy Fish back to Rotofugi in September!

With a degree in painting and a focus in screen printing Jeremy's education and work experience has lead to a career as both a fine artist and a commercial illustrator — finding a balance between exhibiting his work across the US and internationally in galleries and museums while maintaining a presence designing skateboards, t-shirts, vinyl toys, album covers, periodical illustrations, murals, and sneakers.

We are proud to have exhibited Jeremy's original artworks in both 2012 and 2014 but this time Jeremy wanted to do something that would be more affordable for collectors, so the exhibit will consist of 50 of Jeremy's favorite prints pulled from his archives — primarily artist proofs from sold out editions!

If that's not amazing enough for you, we will also be releasing both a new 16x20 print and a t-shirt featuring a loving homage to Chicago, one of Jeremy's "favorite cities in the world." 🌭🤎

Abe Froman Sausage King
Screen Prints by Jeremy Fish
September 9-October 8, 2023

Artist Signing with Print & T-Shirt Release
Saturday, September 16, 10-11am

In addition to the print and tee we will also have available for purchase copies of Jeremy's latest monograph, "Jeremy Fish: Forever Ever After," published by Paragon Books.

Artist Reception
Saturday, September 16, 6-8pm
Live DJ Set by Sean Doe, BYOB

 


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