Get ready for a mouth-watering new exhibit by Mr. Likey!
A master of the pop culture mashup, Mr. Likey often takes two or more well known pop culture characters and smashes them together with a comfort and style that is impressive. Born in Hong Kong, but raised in the US, Mr. Likey has worked and shown primarily in Asia until now, including a stunning immersive exhibit at Wrong Gallery in Beijing in 2022.
We are excited to be hosting an exhibit of new works built on Mr Likey's mashup of The Simpsons and The Care Bears — Donut Bears — his first US solo exhibit! We will have 36 pieces available, ranging in price from US $250 to $2000 each.
OPENING RECEPTION w/ DJ SEAN DOE
Join us the evening of Saturday, April 15, 6-8pm for an informal opening reception with light snacks, soft drinks, and DJ Sean Doe playing live! BYOB for alcohol.
Artworks will be available to purchase online via our Gallery Previews Email list…sign up at https://previews.rotofugi.com. In person sales at the gallery begin April 15.
Donut Bears
New Works by Mr. Likey
April 15-May 7, 2023
Open 10am-6pm Daily
Opening Reception
Saturday, April 15, 6-8pm
About the Artist
Growing up in the United States, Mr. Likey received his Bachelor of Fine Art from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where his work was also awarded the “Gold Key Art Award”. Influenced by cartoons and street culture in the US, Mr. Likey is famous for his exceptional ability to recreate new art pieces with pop cultural symbols. Mr. Likey has participated in numerous exhibitions in New York, Melbourne and Shanghai with solo exhibitions in Hong Kong, Taipei, Beijing and Philippines previously.
We last exhibited MUMBOT in November 2017 as part of a five-person show…since then MUMBOT has been oh so busy, growing MUMBOT WORLD in every possible direction: original art, vinyl art toys, sofubi, resin figures, enamel pins, apparel, plush, and more!
But the biggest developments since we last had her art on our walls are a very active and successful endeavor issuing and selling digital collectibles (aka NFTs), founding the GHOST CLUB creative community, and having both an animated series and an indie video game in development! So to say we are excited to have our friend back is an understatement!
MEET MUMBOT! Join us the evening of Saturday, March 11, 6-8pm for an informal artist reception with light snacks, soft drinks, and music by DJ Sean Doe! BYOB for alcohol.
Artworks will be available to purchase beginning at 10am on March 11, in-person at the gallery, 2780 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago — and online via our Gallery Previews Email list…sign up at https://previews.rotofugi.com
Ghosting Through Life
New Works by MUMBOT
March 11-April 9, 2023
Open 10am-6pm Daily
Artist Reception
Saturday, March 11, 6-8pm
About the Artist
Jade Kuei, aka MUMBOT, is a NY/BKK-based artist, toy designer, storyteller & world builder.
In MUMBOT WORLD, MUMBOT has created not only a brand, but a whole magical world & lore where original characters: Aughostus the Ghost, Mossy the Moss Spirit, Shumi Mushrumi the Mushroom Spirit, Girl From the Forest Floor, Cryspu the Crystal Spirit, Skully Bones, and more characters come to life.
MUMBOT has built the brand from it's early stages--over 15 years ago drawing, painting, making zines, mini comics, hand sewing felt plush, hand sculpting/silicon mold making/resin casting in-house — to producing/manufacturing full collections of soft vinyl toys, sofubi, enamel pins, stickers, apparel, and plush!
One-of-one and limited edition digital collectibles have also played a huge role in building the artist's brand — MUMBOT has been operating in Web3 since early 2021, onboarding, building, and coming up with new ways to create cool stuff & innovate. As founder of the global creative community GHOST CLUB, MUMBOT continues to push further into the digital realm, while also still creating original artwork, apparel, and toys.
Looking forward, MUMBOT has a pilot for an animated series, as well as an indie game - the trailer for which is available to view on YouTube — as her next exciting expansion of MUMBOT WORLD. We can't wait to see what is next!
Our February exhibit is a loosely themed group affair, featuring nearly 20 artists from the Chicago area and beyond (in some cases, way beyond).
The exhibit, entitled Playlist, will feature 2-4 works from each artist, all roughly 12x12 inches in size — the size of a vinyl record — hand picked for our imaginary play list.
You might recognize a few names of folks we've shown before on the list, but there are also a whole bunch of new faces and we can't wait to share their work with you!
Can’t make it to the gallery? Sign up for our gallery previews email list at previews.rotofugi.com to get first chance at online purchasing of these new works!
The gallery is open for viewing at Rotofugi, 2780 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, 10am-6pm daily, and the exhibit will also be viewable online at gallery.rotofugi.com
Playlist
12x12 Group Exhibition
February 11-March 5, 2023
Artist Reception
February 18, 2023, 6-8pm
Please join us for an informal artist reception the evening of February 18 with light snacks, soft drinks, and music by DJ Sean Doe! BYOB for alcohol.
Flyer Image by Jeff Pak
Join us this Sunday, January 22nd from Noon to 2pm for a special exclusive figure release and signing with none other than the wonderful JC Rivera!
Known throughout Chicago for his iconic Bear Champ murals and artwork, JC has partnered with Strangecat Toys to produce this uplifting figure (that is also actually a lamp!) based on his 2017 painting "In My Happy Place."
This Rotofugi exclusive version adds a gradient rainbow effect and graffiti tag (on the back) to the original design and was produced in a limited edition of just 100 pieces.
In My Happy Place — Rainbow Edition is 5 inches tall, 7 inches wide, has an LED light inside that is powered via USB, and is priced at $150.
Sales begin this Sunday at Noon at the store, 2780 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago and remaining inventory will be available online at rotofugi.com beginning at 2pm Central Time.
We kick off a new year of exhibits with a solo show by one of the many exciting voices in Chicago that have been rising up in the creative scene the last few years: Ocean Muerto!
We're particularly excited to be working with Ocean Muerto because he is among a group of artists locally that are very much taking a multi-disciplinary approach to art — working in everything from murals and graffiti, traditional media, 3D printing, toy design and sculpture, to limited edition product runs.
For this exhibit, Ocean has created 12 paintings, each with an accompanying hand-crafted customized and kit-bashed toy sculpture that brings the the story of OUTSIDE to new dimensions.
Can’t make it to the gallery? Sign up for our gallery previews email list at previews.rotofugi.com to get first chance at online purchasing of these new works!
The gallery is open for viewing at Rotofugi, 2780 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, 10am-6pm daily, or view online at gallery.rotofugi.com
OUTSIDE
New Works by Ocean Muerto
January 14-February 5, 2023
Artist Reception
Please join us for an informal artist reception the evening of Saturday, January 21st, 6-8pm with light snacks and music by DJ Sean Doe!
About the Artist / Artist Statement
Ocean Muerto is a Pilsen(Chicago)-based creative who believes he was traumatized just enough to see the funny side of things. He fills his time exploring new media including painting, 3D printing, graffiti, toy making, and consuming bad movies so he doesn't have to be alone with his thoughts.
OUTSIDE is a love letter to anxiety and explores the fear of living life at large. Through a series of fantasyical paintings and toys, Ocean struggles with the responsibility of "Choose-Your-Own-Adventure." With no promises and guarantees, the only way through is to go "Outside."
