: invalid url input)
Wes World
A Tribute to the Films of Wes Anderson
New Works by Cindy Scaife
December 18, 2021-January 9, 2022
We're finishing the 2021 exhibit schedule off with a bang, or perhaps that's a bottle rocket. We've invited back previous exhibitor and master of cute Cindy Scaife and she's chosen to do a tribute to one of our other favorites, film director Wes Anderson.
Whether you're a fan of the Royal Tenenbaums, or Steve Zissou is more your speed, this exhibit will have something for you. Cindy's stylized portraits of some of the most recognizable characters from the Wes Anderson film canon are both adorable and, just like the films, idiosyncratic.
We will not be holding an opening reception for this exhibit, but stop by beginning Saturday, December 18 at 10am for viewing and purchase opportunities. Members of our gallery previews email list will get first opportunity to purchase online, but we expect to send the online availability notification sometime after the official opening this month. To receive the email, sign up at previews.rotofugi.com.
Wes World continues through Sunday, January 9 at Rotofugi, 2780 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago and will also be viewable at gallery.rotofugi.com shortly after the exhibit begins.
About the Artist
Cindy Scaife was born and raised in Toronto, Canada and she graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD). For over 25 years Cindy has worked as a full-time professional artist, muralist and art educator.
Cindy is greatly influenced by the art, design and advertising illustrations of the Atomic Age. Drawing heavily from the colour palette and optimism of this era, Cindyʼs work reflects its own nostalgia and innocence. Cindy arrived at her style of art by way of the 1950ʼs advertising industryʼs development and use of the product mascot, an anthropomorphic character used to promote a companyʼs wares to a wide audience.
This is Cindy's second solo exhibit at Rotofugi.
Happy Holidays! Our store in Chicago is open slightly extended hours now through December 21...and greatly extended hours on December 22-23! The store is stocked up on all kinds of toys, blind boxes, plush, and art so you can stop by and get something awesome, whether it's a gift or a treat for yourself. ❤️
Rotofugi, 2780 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago
Rotofugi Holiday Hours 2021
December 6-21
Open 10am-7pm daily
December 22-23
Open 9am-9pm
December 24 (Christmas Eve)
9am-4pm
December 25 (Christmas Day)
Closed
December 31 (New Year's Eve)
10am-4pm
January 1 (New Year's Day)
Closed
January 2
10am-6pm
January 3
Closed (Inventory)
Join us Sunday, December 12, 1-3pm for a special signing with Mitch and Aiden O'Connell to promote their new children's book "Hi Weirdo!"
A long time friend and collaborator of the store, Mitch O'Connell is one of Chicago's most prolific illustrators and definitely a handsome fella.* Created from an idea proposed by 7 year old Aiden O'Connell, "Hi Weirdo!" is Mitch's very fist children's book…a 28 page, Little Golden Book sized, heavy stock, full color trip through a town full of weird, wacky and wild characters! What will happen? What do they look like? What life lessons will be learned?
"Hi Weirdo! is an amazingly fun and life-changing children's book by artist Mitch O'Connell and his 7-year-old son, Aiden. This book will warm the hearts of cool kids, happy mutants, and high weirdos." — Boing Boing
Mitch and Aiden will be at the store on Sunday, December 12, 1-3pm selling and signing books that would most definitely be amazing gifts for the kids and art lovers in your life.
Rotofugi, 2780 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago.
*Mitch told us to say this.
Update: The exhibit is now viewable online and we're taking orders!
—
Super-Cali-Fragi-Listic Expi-Ali-Toy-Ish
Soft Vinyl Exhibit by Bombastic Plastic and Phobia Toys
December 4, 2021-January 2, 2022
Meet the Artist
Saturday, December 4, 10am-Noon
Back in March we tried something new...a mini exhibit of just vinyl figures by an independent producer/artist, Phobia Toys, on top of our normal monthly exhibit. We had so much fun that we're doing it again!
Indy vinyl, specifically sofubi-style productions, are one of the more interesting and vital parts of the designer toy world. Often driven by nothing more than a creative spirit and a passion for the artistic potential of toys, there are dozens if not hundreds of small toy producers making amazing stuff.
Starting December 4 we'll have Phobia Toys back, but we're expanding the circle a little. Ben (Phobia) has invited Neil Ewing, aka Bombastic Plastic, to join in the fun! Not only have they both produced and painted a bunch of their own figures, they've done some crossover collaborations and even some mashups with other toy producers.
Join us Saturday, December 4, 10am-Noon for an informal opening and first shot at the toys! Ben will be at the store to hang out and chat with anyone that has questions about his figures or independent vinyl production.
The exhibit continues through January 2nd, 2022 and the gallery is open for viewing at Rotofugi, 2780 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago or view online at gallery.rotofugi.com (coming soon).
About the Artists
Phobia Toys is a small independent toy company based in Minneapolis, MN, focusing on finding a balance between the cute and grotesque through the soft vinyl toy medium. All toys are hand sculpted and painted by Ben Farnam in his South Minneapolis studio.
Ben often collaborates with some of his favorite toy artists: painting each other’s toys, mashing up different sculpts, and coming up with character combinations that make for fun and unusual soft vinyl toys. Phobia Toys provide collectors with quality soft vinyl toys that are strange, unique, and limited to very small runs.
Neil Ewing is a multimedia artist from south eastern Colorado. His art is focused on creating narrative, pulled from nostalgia and experience to create feelings of humor, joy and levity.
Since 2002, Neil has drawn comics, created toys, made music, and worked with many artists, brands and record labels. He currently runs Bombastic Plastic, a creative company that makes genre bending quirky collectibles and soft goods.
This Black Friday, instead of a boring sale, we're opening the doors an hour early and debuting two new limited edition exclusive releases!
Join us Friday, November 26 at 9am Central for the release of Midnight Moon Bat: Bat Sabbatical and Mad*L Citizen: Rotofugi Mad Ape! That's right, it's double Black Friday Exclusives going head to head!
On the left, we've Midnight Moon Bat. Our exclusive version of the figure, designed by Nightly Made (Megan Mahfoud) and produced by Martian Toys, is decked out to rock! Megan's super cute bat has taken a little darker turn thanks to a new paint design by Brazilian artist Igor Ventura — and we are all in for this black metal girl (swoon)!
Take her home for $55. Limited edition of 150 figures, 4.5 inches tall.
On the right, we've got a special Rotofugi version of legendary toy designer Jeremy "Mad" Madl's new figure with UVD Toys, the Mad*L Citizen. We're absolutely loving this evolution of an early designer toy staple, the Mad*L. Our exclusive version is rocking a design inspired by a hoodie that Mad designed for us way back in 2005 when we were just a baby store. Figure and paint design by Mad, sculpt by Pixel Budah.
Get your own piece of Rotofugi history for just $50! Limited edition of 100 figures, 4 inches tall.
We'll have stock of both releases at the store at 2780 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago and online at rotofugi.com beginning at 9am!
