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!
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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.
We get a whole lot of people inquiring about Sonny Angel and Smiski....and the answer is YES, we are an official Dreams dealer and do stock both. However, when supplies are low from the manufacturer as they have been the last year or so, we usually only offer them for in store purchase at our Chicago location.
So...if you're in Chicago, and looking for Sonny or Smiski, we try to keep them in stock, but a call to the store before heading over is probably a good idea because when we do get stock it tends to go fast.
The best way to get notification when we have new stock (either restock or new limited series) is to follow us on Instagram, where we always announce when we have new stock. Thanks!
Starting tomorrow we will begin our holiday hours and will be open 10am-9pm daily! 🎄✨
Stop by and grab some blind boxes, plush, that vinyl your friend has been eyeing, or go big with an original piece of artwork! And you could always just treat yourself too, just saying! We have a lot of new arrivals, and more arriving daily!
We will be closed on Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and January 2nd (yay, inventory) ... and have reduced hours on both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, so plan accordingly. 😄
Rotofugi, 2780 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago or shop online at rotofugi.com
Holiday 2023 Hours
• 10am-9pm, December 16-23
• 10am-4pm, Christmas Eve
• Closed Christmas Day
• 10am-6pm, December 26-30
• 10am-4pm, New Year's Eve
• Closed New Year's Day
We will also be closed on January 2, 2024 for our annual inventory.
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."
Who's the toughest little dude around? And what's that wonderful sound? Oh my, it's Tardigrades on Parade! 💦🐻🎺
This Saturday we are excited to open a new art exhibit by Kent Venture of Doomco Designs featuring new takes on his Tarbus the Tardigrade! Originally sculpted and designed in virtual reality as a vinyl figure, Kent is bringing Tarbus to some new mediums and we are excited to see what he's cooked up!
A lifelong Chicagoan, artist, and mechanical engineer, Kent formed Doomco Designs in 2017. Focused on digital design and physical fabrication, Kent explores the intersections between the theory of objects and the real-life capabilities of manufacturing.
Join us the evening of Saturday, November 11, 6-8pm for an opening reception to browse the art, meet the artist, and groove to a live set by Rotofugi Music Director DJ Sean Doe! Free soft drinks, BYOB.
Tardigrades on Parade
New Works by Kent Venture
November 11-December 3, 2023
Open 10am-6pm Daily
Opening Reception
Saturday, November 11, 6-8pm
featuring DJ Sean Doe
Sign up at previews.rotofugi.com for first online access to this and future exhibits. For this show we expect to have it available online 1-2 weeks *after* the opening.
