A journey into the Universe of Art Toys with Art Toy Gama!

Art Toy Gama are a group of influential and talented artists drawn together from many varied backgrounds and experiences to create a collective who promote art toys and urban arts around the world. With members and contributors from countries like Spain, Chile, Colombia, Argentina and the USA they bring many influences and talents together with one vision to promote and encourage art toy and urban artists.

They are currently putting the final touches in place for an incredible exhibition in the stunning venue at the Topic Museum in the city of Tolosa, which is in the Basque region of Spain. The exhibition has been curated by Fran Picazo with direction from the team at the Topic Museum and co-curation and organisation from the team at Art Toy Gama. The exhibition which is titled "A journey into the universe of art toys" will feature the work of 59 artists from 16 Countries, with some of the most influential and important names in the world of toy art being part of their lineup.

The following artists are taking part in the exhibition:
JUDAS ARRIETA (Guipúzcoa, Spain), ANTU BOCCA VALENZUELA aka ANTU ARTWORK (Chile), Cristina A. del Chicca - ART TOY MAISON (Vizcaya, Spain), BETTERDAYSTOYS (Sevilla, Spain), BRANDT PETERS & KATHIE OLIVAS – CIRCUS POSTERUS (USA), COTÉ ESCRIVÁ (Valencia, Spain), JOSÉ HERRERA aka CREATURITAS (USA), EL DODO ALBINO (Albacete, Spain), DOKTOR A (UK), DOUBLE PARLOUR (USA), DUCA (Italy), DOLLECHKA (Russia), IVÁN DARÍO ESPINEL - ARTEFACTO INC. ART TOYS (Colombia), DULK (Valencia, Spain), FER MG (Madrid, Spain), FRIKIS ART DOLLS (Peru), NAIARA FIGUERO (Vizcaya, Spain), FUEGO FÁTUO (Barcelona, Spain) MIGHTY JAXX x JASON FREENY (Singapore & USA), JAVIER JIMENEZ (Granada, Spain), KATYUSHKA ART DOLLS (Poland), JEREMY VILLE (USA), JOE LEDBETTER (USA), LUAISO LOPEZ (Barcelona, Spain), LUKE CHUEH (USA), MARK NAGATA (USA) , MIKE LEAVITT (USA), MR. MITOTE & SUSANO RAMÍREZ (Mexico), MRS (Sevilla, Spain),  NATHAN JUREVICIUS (Australia), ORIGEN PEREGRINO (Peru), PICHIAVO (Valencia, Spain), RAMÓN PLA & SILVIA PÉREZ (Valencia, Spain), SANDRA ARTEAGA CREATURES (Barcelona, Spain), SCOTT RADKE ART (USA), EMILIO SUBIRÁ aka SICKEMIL (Sevilla, Spain), SR.MIAU (Castellón, Spain), STAN MANOUKIAN (France), STEVE FERRERA (USA), SUSPIRIA (Barcelona, Spain), TARA MCPHERSON (USA), TOKYO JESUS (Japan), JAKE VALENTINE (USA), VUITBITS (Barcelona, Spain), WHATSHISNAME (UK), XELON XLF (Valencia, Spain), YOSIELL (USA), CÉSAR ZANARDI aka CERRITO (Argentina), MARKO ZUBAK (Croatia)  & URA ITURRALDE (Guipúzcoa, Spain), EDUARDO LAVADENZ (Bolivia & Madrid, Spain), ARTURO ROJAS PEDRINI & PATRICIA CANSECO (Chile, Guipúzcoa, Spain), IÑIGO ROYO (Guipúzcoa, Spain), OLGA RUIZ (Vizcaya, Spain)

The thinking behind this exhibition is to seek out a common narrative which explores the world of art toys and the world of puppet art to see if there are shared connections and influences as part of the creative process. Also to explore if the aesthetic of the toy is maintained when interpreted as a puppet or if this changes when the art toy is freed from its original function.

The exhibition will also explore the idea of Art Toys as an experience, something to live with and ultimately to play with to fulfil the original idea of the toy as something to be played with as well as displayed. To compliment the Art Toys in the exhibition there will be artistic photographs of the toys on display to see the different ways that Art Toys can be interpreted when viewed by different people. Photos of the events will also be posted to a dedicated pinterest page and will be posted HERE as well as additional coverage and essays being posted HERE.

The key members of the Art Toy Gama Collective are as follows:

• Sergio Pampliega Campo and Cristina A. del Chicca from Spain:
  Art Toy Maison www.behance.net/arttoymaison
• Antu Bocca Valenzuela from Chile: Antu Artwork http://antuartwork.cl/
• Iván Darío Espinel Cruz from Colombia Artefacto Inc. Art Toys: https://www.facebook.com/pg/artefactoinc
• Judas Arrieta from Spain www.judasarrieta.com
• César Zanardi from Argentina: Cerrito Art Toys www.cerritomisterio.com
• Jake Valentine from USA: www.rebelrevelgallery.com