Exhibitions & Events

Monsters & Misfits IV:A Circus Posterus Exhibition at Shibuya Hikarie, Tokyo

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Monsters & Misfits IV

A Circus Posterus Exhibition at Shibuya Hikarie, Tokyo

Tomenosuke + Circus Posterus (T+CP) is delighted to announce Monsters & Misfits IV, an exhibit of new work presented in collaboration with Tomenosuke-Syoten. This is the first Monsters and Misfits in Tokyo (Japan) and will be on display at Shibuya Hikarie at Creative Space “8/” from April 1st – 7th.

Monsters and Misfits IV will feature returning artists Brandt Peters, Kathie Olivas, Amanda Louise Spayd, Chris Ryniak, Andrew Bell, Stan Manoukian, and Carisa Swenson. Shing Yin Khor, Leslie Levings, Lana Crooks, and Kevin Titzer join the returning exhibition as new additions to the roster.

This museum level exhibition will bring you through a parade of strange and fantastic creatures and characters from these top contemporary designers, toy makers, and fine artists. This year’s group of Circus Posterus’ artists and guests present a hand-made sideshow of beady eyed night critters, devils, reptilian oddities, mouse kings, kappa skulls, ghost children, and more that promise to leave you awash in starry-eyed wonder. The fourth installment of this show features primarily hand made toys and sculptures inspired by cryptozoology and an idealized, re-imagined  animal kindgdom. Andrew Bell, Stan Manoukian, Kathie Olivas, Brandt Peters, Amanda Louise Spayd, and Chris Ryniak will be attending the opening reception on April 1st.

To purchase original artwork and, or view the Monsters and Misfits IV exhibition online, please visit www.tomenosuke.com on April 2nd (11 AM local Tokyo time) when the web preview is launched. Please contact Tomenosuke.com directly for any Monsters and Misfits IV purchase related questions.

Press images and additional promotional artist information are available upon request from our Press Manager.

The exhibit will run April 1st to 7th at Shibuya Hikarie in Tokyo, Japan, with an opening reception on April 1st.

Shibuya Hikarie (Creative Space “8/”)
2-21-1 Shibuya
Shibuya-ku
Tokyo, Japan
150-8510
03-5468-5892
http://www.hikarie.jp/en/

www.tomenosuke.com
www.circusposterus.com

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Phil Noto’s “Silent Frequency” this April at Stranger Factory!

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Stranger Factory is thrilled to present a new exhibit in April from returning artist Phil Noto!

Silent Frequency finds Noto’s signature style in top form, as the artist brings beautiful new paintings to life, comprised of soft dream-like portraits juxtapozed with bold graphic elements and typography. This newest body of work hints at sci-fi, transporting the viewer further into the artist’s future vision often playing with modern advertising illustration techniques, with nods to classic pulp cinema posters, and silver age sci-fi novels. Covers to books yet to be written, posters to films yet to be; Noto’s master paintings are portraits of future protagonists with secret pasts, often portraying subtle expressions that few artists are capable of capturing, drawing us further and further in to his continued narrative.

Phil Noto is an Eisner nominated American painter, comic book/ concept artist who is known for his work on such titles as Black Widow, Jonah Hex, Uncanny X-Force, and most recently Star Wars (Chewbacca and Shattered Empire). After a 10 year career at Disney Feature Animation, he started to work full-time as an artist for Marvel, DC, Image Comics and Dark Horse, and as well, time in gaming working on such blockbuster hits such as Bioshock.

“Silent Frequency” opens Friday April 1st, from 6-9 pm with a reception open to the public.

Silent Frequency will remain on display until May 1st.

Stranger Factory
3411 Central Avenue NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-508-3049

March brings an exciting mid-month pop up event to Stranger Factory with legendary toy artist and designer, Paul Kaiju!

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March brings an exciting mid-month pop up event to Stranger Factory with legendary toy artist and designer, Paul Kaiju!

Stranger Factory is proud to present a special mid-month event in March: A one weekend exhibition with legendary West-Coast (San Diego) toy designer and artist, Paul Kaiju, with an opening reception on Saturday, March 19th (from 6-9 PM, with the artist in attendance.)

Highly inspired by vintage Japanese toys/television, big screen Kaiju monsters, 1960s Sci-Fi, and old horror shows, Paul “Kaiju” is member to an extremely talented small group of industry leading toy artists that not only design, but sculpt, engineer, and self-produce their toys in Japan through a very rare “sofubi” (soft vinyl) traditional manufacturing process. Always the constant muse for the independent art toy industry, Kaiju pioneered techniques, customization, toy design processes (from color/form to function) and has been a major influence to most toy artists and has pushed the boundaries of toy beyond commercial application into new contemporary sculpture.

The artist will have a limited amount (a few dozen) of his hand-painted custom figures at the opening reception. It is a very limited engagement and will only run from March 19th-21st. Any available figures after the weekend, will be put up for online sale on Monday, March 21st. In person sales on Saturday will require a raffle ticket that will be distributed on a first come first serve basis, starting at noon Friday, March 18th through 5:30 PM on the 19th (right before reception). All sales on Saturday and Sunday will be in-person. No phone calls or emails will be accepted until the following Monday, if any pieces are still available.

The opening reception will be on Saturday March 19th from 6-9 pm with artist in attendance.

This mid month pop up exhibition will remain on display until March 21st (if works are still available after weekend).

Stranger Factory
3411 Central Avenue NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-508-3049

March brings two exhibitions to Stranger Factory! MAIN GALLERY: Kelly Tunstall / PROJECT ROOM: Brandan Styles & Ellie Rusinova

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March brings two exhibitions to Stranger Factory!

MAIN GALLERY: Kelly Tunstall / PROJECT ROOM: Brandan Styles & Ellie Rusinova

Kelly Tunstall

SOFT SERVE
18 x 24 acrylic and spray paint on panel

San Francisco based artist Kelly Tunstall renders stylized female figures and their adaptations to environment: nests built of painted boards held together by drawn nails or far off planets. The physical form and its accompanying exterior become a mirror for internal thought processes and turmoil. in an optimistic twist, her newest work focuses on her nostalgic love of ice cream.
Working in acrylic, collage, spray paint, pencil, pen and ink, and gold leaf, the experimental, yet classically grounded works live somewhat comfortably in a space between graphic expression, stylized representation, surrealism, and sketch. The patina of age and calligraphic drawing methods lend further depth to her story-filled worlds.
Kelly Tunstall (born 1979) received her BA from California College of Arts and Crafts in 2002 and currently resides in San Francisco, CA.

Brandan Styles & Ellie Rusinova

FOOLS AND GODS
Site specific installation of new works (project room)
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Artist Couple Brandan Styles and Ellie Rusinova will be creating a site specific installation of new works based on mysticism, circus performers, and an ongoing curiosity with all that is unknown in the universe. Both artists utilize layered wood and sculpted elements that defy time and space in various theatrical stages.
Brandan Styles is a self-made mad man, circus aficionado and an art obsessive. He pours all of his energy into creating magical, bizarre, funny and thoughtful art with the goal of expressing the thoughts and characters that inhabit his brain.
Ellie Rusinova is a multicultural artist, mixing history, heritage, dreams and ideas into a world of her own.
Ellie Rusinova and Brandan Styles are a husband and wife team, working on art and life together in Denver,CO with their two kids and 4 dogs. They also run a circus show, travel the country selling art, and love getting into spirited conversations.

“Soft Serve” and “Gods and Fools” opens Friday March 4th, from 6-9 pm with a reception for the artists (open to the public).

The show will run March 4th – 27th.

   

The opening reception will be on March 4th from 6-9 pm
and all artists will be in attendance.

Soft Serve and Gods and Fools will remain on display until March 27th.

 

Stranger Factory
3411 Central Avenue NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-508-3049

 

February GALLERY Exhibit – Tokyo Jesus and Eimi Takano

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February brings a new two person exhibition direct from Japan to Stranger Factory!

 Tokyo Jesus & Eimi Takano

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Tokyo Jesus (on left) and Eimi Takano (on right)
This February, Stranger Factory gallery presents a new two person exhibition “Skulls and Sweets” by Japanese artist couple, Tokyo Jesus and Eimi Takano.

Both artists will be in attendance at the opening reception on Friday, February 5, from 6-9pm. Tokyo Jesus is a self taught artist whose work focuses on complex female characters that live between chaos and sanity. His vision is filled with soft sexual tension, skulls, and what he considers “ruined science.”
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAHis wife Eimi Takano’s work is an extreme contrast visually with the sugary sweet visions of an idealized childhood. She describes her work as funny, yummy, and cute. Babies dreaming of becoming circus performers, memory bears, and starry-eyed donuts  create a world full of imagination and kawaii style optimism.

Both of their worlds explore the space existing between life and death and celebrating everything that is beautiful and recognizing the temporary of everything that will eventually die.

“Skulls and Sweets” opens Friday February 5, from 6-9pm with a reception for the artists (open to the public).

The show will run February 5- 28

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The opening reception will be on February 5th from 6-9pm
and both artists will be in attendance.

Skulls & Sweets will remain on display until February 28th.

Stranger Factory
3411 Central Avenue NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-508-3049

 

January GALLERY Exhibit – Joel Nakamura and Max Lehman

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January brings two exciting shows
to Stranger Factory!

Joel Nakamura: Zen Gardens

Max Lehman: Gods + Goop + Gobbledygook

Joel Nakamura and Max Lehman, both residents of the Santa Fe area, share a common thread as they both utilize modern imagery as well as folk motifs, across various traditions, in their work. January brings their respective, complementary exhibitions to Stranger Factory.
 
 Zen Gardens will include two bodies of work with about twenty paintings, a few of which will bridge together Nakamura’s conceptualization of Zen garden principals, where we might find war-like creatures in serene and peaceful surroundings, with the Japanese Pop aesthetic that makes his work instantly recognizable.

Gods & Goop & Gobbledygook will feature approximately twenty hand-painted and glazed ceramic sculptures, in a variety of sizes. Lehman’s pieces seamlessly blend his animation-inspired characters against a backdrop of ancient symbolism and in his upcoming exhibition, he invites viewers to not only find their own meaning in the search for knowledge through nonsense, but to consider the possibility that there is no meaning, just mystery.

The opening reception will be on January 8th from 6-9pm
and both artists will be in attendance.

Zen Gardens and Gods & Goop & Gobbledygook
will remain on display until January 31st.

Stranger Factory
3411 Central Avenue NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-508-3049

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DECEMBER 2015 WINTER SALON GROUP EXHIBITION!

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DECEMBER 2015
WINTER SALON GROUP EXHIBITION!
ws1 Stranger Factory is excited to announce Winter Salon, our annual small-works and editions group exhibit featuring members of the Circus Posterus collective, as well as like-minded friends and family. This group exhibit is an end-of-year holiday party for Circus Posterus and Stranger Factory, and a chance for our family of artists and contributors to all come together for a great exhibit and celebrate another year of creating incredible artwork and limited edition releases under the Circus Posterus banner. This year’s participating artists include Brandt Peters, Kathie Olivas, Chris Ryniak, Amanda Louise Spayd, Genevieve Geer, Tim Lee, Carisa Swenson and many more!

ws2We will also have several new, and amazing, limited edition pieces from Instinctoy in Japan! 

 Stranger Factory will be open during the Nob Hill Shop & Stroll on
Thursday, December 3rd.
Winter Salon will be on display from December 4th through January 3rd.
The opening reception is on Friday December 4th from 6 – 9 PM
and some artists will be in attendance.
Stranger Factory
3411 Central Avenue NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-508-3049

 

DCON 2015!

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DCON 2015 Instagram

We are coming for you Designer Con!!!! See you at booth #519 where we will have tons of exclusives, editions, Instinctoys, and more!!!!

Stay tuned in!

The 13 Dunny Release party with Brandt Peters and Kathie Olivas this FRIDAY!

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Kidrobot and Brandt Peters are excited to announce the release and release party of the first Dunny series in over a year, The 13!!!!!!

Legend has it that a shady eccentric by the name of Lord Strange opened up the 13th dimension one blood moon, and in so doing filled his 13 floor mansion, Infernal Manor, with beasts, creatures and monstrosities of every type. Lord Strange was never seen again… his lair abandoned and sealed from the public since that horrific evening. None brave enough to venture into Infernal Manor has ever returned to tell their tale. Do you dare seek The 13?

If you do… Join Kidrobot, Brandt Peters and Kathie Olivas on Friday, October 16th for The 13 Dunny Series release party and signing at 3D Retro! We’ll have food, door prizes and The 13 Dunny series available for purchase! As an event special, a limited amount of chase pieces will be given with a purchase of the full case. This event will take place at 3D Retro in Glendale, CA from 7pm-9pm.

3D Retro
1851 Victory Blvd
Glendale, CA 91201

November brings IN SHADOWS to Stranger Factory, with new works from Cassia Harries, Aya Kakeda, Horrible Adorables, valeri blossom and Junker Jane

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November brings IN SHADOWS to Stranger Factory, with new works from Cassia Harries, Aya Kakeda, Horrible Adorables,valeri blossom, and Junker Jane!

 

Cassia Harries is a lead concept artist in the gaming industry and also lead monster maker, as the owner and developer of Monster Mind Sculpts, based in California.

Known for fantastical creatures and inspired by childhood films, such as Jim Henson’s Labyrinth, Harries works take us on a journey that seamlessly blends steampunk aesthetic with light-hearted whimsy.

For In Shadows, Harries will expanding on her Darkskies narrative. Global volcanic activity has left the world with darkened skies and covered in soot. Harries’ brave characters fight creatures emerging from the ashes and return them to the cracks in the Earth, from which they’ve come, in order to restore balance on the planet. Harries will be producing a number of original sculpts and two small editions of her Shadowlings and Blaylocks, each with one of a kind color variants.
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Professional illustrator, Aya Kakeda, was born in Tokyo and now resides in New York. Kakeda has produced work for Nike, Nickelodeon, KidRobot, among other dynamic companies, in addition to gallery representation across the world.

Kakeda will be producing between 8 and 10 paintings on wood for In Shadows, as well as some 3D wall hangings, and a small edition of prints. For In Shadows, Kakeda’s work will feature a lone girl navigating between real world and the shadow realm, encountering creatures that only she can see.

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Ohio-based artists Jordan Elise Perme and Chris Lees are the wife and husband team behind Horrible Adorables, which are a collection of strange and fantastical creatures, known for their meticulous wool-felt scales.

Horrible Adorables will be producing approximately 20 one of a kind sculpts for In Shadows, as the duo explores a darker theme than usual – merging witchcraft and the dark arts – their creatures are adapting into familiars, representative of natural plants with magical properties, expressed through each creature’s hybrid appearance.

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valeri blossom is a mixed media artist in New Mexico. Her work is characterized by it’s curiously playful approach to darker subjects as a world of curious children and curiouser monsters, collide.

In Shadows has provided blossom with the opportunity to expand on a narrative that includes childlike monsters, which prove to be more friendly than frightening, and the humans that traverse the galaxy in brave pursuit of exposing the shadow to light. We can expect to see 8-10 original paintings from blossom, for In Shadows, on wood and canvas.

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Catherine Zacchino, or Junker Jane, is an artist in Oregon, whose handmade dolls are known for their monstrous appearance and vintage appeal.

For In Shadows, we will have approximately 10 Junker Jane pieces, including original art dolls and wall hangings as Zacchino explores the thin veil between the seen and unseen and the supernatural creatures that exist there, waiting for you to catch just a glimpse!

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In Shadows will be on display from November 6th through November 29th.
The opening reception is on Friday, November 6th from 6 – 9 PM
and many of the artists will be in attendance.

Stranger Factory
3411 Central Avenue NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-508-3049