The Japanese American National Museum in association with Dacosta of Chocolate Soop brought together artists who customized Chocolate Soop’s DCTO (Dream Come True Object), a futuristic vinyl version of the traditional Japanese daruma.
Check out the photos below to view the various artists’ interpretations. A few of the pieces are available to purchase at the JANM Store.
Tako Rikishi (Octopus Sumo)
Joel Nakamura
Santa Fe, NM
Born sometime between the Korean War and the Bay of Pigs in the City of Los Angeles, Joel Nakamura is a graduate of the world-renowned Art Center College of Design in Pasadena where he later became an instructor.
He, his wife Kathleen, and their two children live about 10 minutes south of Santa Fe Plaza. His work has been featured in newspapers and magazines across the United States. He has been the subject of numerous one-man shows, with his home gallery Hahn-Ross on Canyon Road in Santa Fe.
Polymers, 8"H.
Fire Ants Pants
Camilla d’Errico
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Canadian-Italian artist Camilla d’Errico’s client list includes Dark Horse Comics, Image Comics, Random House, Tokyopop, Hasbro, Disney, Sanrio, Neil Gaiman, and she also works with video game and movie companies on character development. Her own characters and properties, Tanpopo and Helmetgirls, are loved by fans and followers and now inspire Cosplay costumes.
Acrylic 8"H.
Glucose Dreams
Megz Majewski
Calgary, AB, Canada
Majewski enjoys bringing life to characters on-screen, but her true passion is painting those that do not possess life. Her first solo art show was an incredible accomplishment: she successfully created 100 paintings in 100 days. The positive response to her art has inspired her to keep painting ghoulish vixens and zombie-eyed sweethearts, especially for little girls whose dollies have only one eye.
Acrylic 8"H.
Karada Bijutsu (Body Art)
Joel Nakamura
Santa Fe, NM
Born sometime between the Korean War and the Bay of Pigs in the City of Los Angeles, Joel Nakamura is a graduate of the world-renowned Art Center College of Design in Pasadena where he later became an instructor.
He, his wife Kathleen, and their two children live about 10 minutes south of Santa Fe Plaza. His work has been featured in newspapers and magazines across the United States. He has been the subject of numerous one-man shows, with his home gallery Hahn-Ross on Canyon Road in Santa Fe.
Polymers and ink, 8"H.
Time + Perseverance x Open Mind = Hope
Kazumi Kobayashi Svenson
Wrightwood, CA
Vinyl and hand-blown glass, 8"H.
Future Hope
David Svenson
Wrightwood, CA
Svenson’s medium of choice is usually neon or wood. Exhibiting widely, he creates whimsical, glowing sculptures which are often Japanese-themed. He’s also a teacher and lecturer, and is on the board of the Museum of Neon Art, Los Angeles.
Vinyl, Bondo, and paint.
Airborne One
Donna Ikkanda
Los Angeles, CA
swirling, floating
dreams are autumn leaves falling
from a tree still full
Growing up in West Los Angeles, this Sansei artist studied Fine Arts at UCLA in the late 1960s and early ’70s, but her greatest artistic influences can be drawn within her own cultural background. “No matter what the subject matter, traditional Japanese art always combines all these elements in a way which is simultaneously dynamic, graceful, rich, deep, clean, and pure. It’s a very strong visual tradition.“
Mixed media, 8"H.
Airborne Too
Donna Ikkanda
Los Angeles, CA
to sing while soaring
sunlight defines each feather
untethered spirit
Growing up in West Los Angeles, this Sansei artist studied Fine Arts at UCLA in the late 1960s and early ’70s, but her greatest artistic influences can be drawn within her own cultural background. “No matter what the subject matter, traditional Japanese art always combines all these elements in a way which is simultaneously dynamic, graceful, rich, deep, clean, and pure. It’s a very strong visual tradition.“
Mixed media, 8"H.
Mouth
Yoshii
Tokyo, Japan
Yoshii is an acclaimed digital artist in Japan. He is a pioneer in the use of Corel Painter to make digital images in the Japanese illustration world. He freelanced as an illustrator and created various characters for major TV programs, commercials, corporate websites, campaigns, and events. Yoshii specializes in crystallizing characters for his clients’ needs with little direction.
Acrylic, 8"H.
Okasane Darumikan
Qris Yamashita
Los Angeles, CA
While meditating Daruma once fell asleep and was so angry with himself that he ripped off his eyelids so he would never sleep again. Where his eyelids fell, the first tea bushes grew; and when monks brewed the leaves of the bush it enabled them to stay awake through their own meditations.
Yamashita is well known in the community not only for her superb graphic design skills and spirited taiko drumming, but over the years she has produced a series of beautiful mochitsuki posters, which are reflected in this homage to the daruma.
Mixed media, 20"H including stem.
Coatl de Oro
Jesse Hernandez
Concord, CA
An urban vinyl artist from the Bay area, Jesse counts among his heroes: Crazy Horse, Geronimo, Che Guevara, Cesar Chavez, Santana, Roman Nose, and Bob Marley.
Spray paint and enamel, 8"H.
Karma Dreams
Neal Yamamoto
Los Angeles, CA
Enamel paint, 8"H.
The Fecund DCTO
Steve Talkowski
Brooklyn, NY
Acrylic paint and paint markers, 8"H.
Inner Truth
Gary van der Steur
Los Angeles, CA
Gary is a designer/illustrator and occasional fine artist who lives and works in Los Angeles. In his spare time he dabbles in composing music. He has many clients in the non-profit world.
Iron, leather, bitumen, unidentified materials, 8"H.
Prototype DCTO, Mark 1
Charles Hui (Chuckboy)
Los Angeles, CA
Chrome paint, metal rivets, and styrene plastic, 8"H.
Haragei (Center of Experience)
Joel Nakamura
Santa Fe, NM
Born sometime between the Korean War and the Bay of Pigs in the City of Los Angeles, Joel Nakamura is a graduate of the world-renowned Art Center College of Design in Pasadena where he later became an instructor.
He, his wife Kathleen, and their two children live about 10 minutes south of Santa Fe Plaza. His work has been featured in newspapers and magazines across the United States. He has been the subject of numerous one-man shows, with his home gallery Hahn-Ross on Canyon Road in Santa Fe.
Polymers, 8"H.
k-wing rebel
kaNO kid
Elmhurst, NY
Acrylic, 8"H.
Nest
Julie West
Derby, UK
Paint, sticks, and bird, 8"H.
The Dream Machine
Judson Beaumont
Vancouver, BC, Canada
“When I first saw Dacosta’s Daruma, I loved the overall shape of it. I began toying with different ideas and concepts but eventually ended up at the idea of transforming it into a car. I wanted to try something different and being that the show is in Los Angeles, I wanted to pay homage to the huge car customizing culture in LA, which I have always been a big fan of. I named this piece the Dream Machine, let’s see where it will go.” —Judson
Fiberglas, wood, paint, and fur, approx. 8"H.
Untitled
Koji Takei
Los Angeles, CA
Before transitioning to fine art, Koji owned and operated a successful graphic design firm in Los Angeles. He has received recognition for his work from many professional organizations including awards from New York Art Director’s Club, American Institute of Graphic Arts, Los Angeles Art Director’s Club, Communication Arts, and Society of Typographic Arts. His work has been published in Graphis Magazine, Print Magazine, Communication Arts, and various publications in Japan and South Korea.
Plaster and wood, 8"H.
Zen Cycle
Trevor McKay
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Acrylic and apoxie sculpt, 9"H.
Krust-aruma
Marilyn Frandsen
Los Angeles, CA
Frandsen owns and operates the design studio in Hollywood that currently produces the incredibly over-the-top, uber-designed packaging for Fox’s The Simpsons™ DVDs, among other properties.
Mixed media, 10"H.
Pandaruma
Kazuko Shinoka
Los Angeles, CA
Fabric, stand, and bamboo vase, approx. 8"H.
White Dreams
Charuca
Barcelona, Spain
Charuca.net is a design studio in Barcelona, Spain, created in 2004 and specializing in character design, toy design, identity, and illustration.
Mixed media, 8"H.
Totoro Jizou
Dacosta!
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Acrylic, rigid foam, and apoxie.
My Favorite Neighbor
Lou Pimentel
Brooklyn, NY
Oil paint.
O.W.L.
Dan Goodsell
Los Angeles, CA
Goodsell is co-author of Krazy Kids Food and Taschen 2003; he is also the creator of Mr. Toast, Shaky Bacon, and a host of interesting friends.
Felt, 8"H.
The Earth
Itokin Park
Kanagawa, Japan
Acrylic, 8"H.
Untitled
Brent Nolasco
Allentown, PA
Acrylic, 8"H.
Mask
Stuart Rapeport
Los Angeles, CA
Latex paint, 8"H.
Untitled
Mark Nagata
San Francisco, CA
V-Color paint, 8"H.
Untitled
Peter Taylor
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Acrylic paint and gold leaf, 8"H.
Honey Crisp
Shawn O’Conner
Edmonton, AB, Canada
Acrylic and polymer paint.
Microgravity
Scott Wetterschneider
Austin, TX
Acrylic
Portrait of Chicken Boy
Amy Inouye
Los Angeles, CA
Crocheted cotton, 8"H.
Golden Eyed Innocence
Leecifer
Oakland, CA
Mixed media, 8"H.
Cotton Candy Scream
Cameron Tiede
Flower Mound, TX
Acrylic, 8"H.
Moon Watcher
Mark Pilon
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Every aspect of Pilon’s art is carefully computer drawn and then meticulously painted in acrylic layers, to give them a sharp, print-like synthetic quality. Mark has worked in magazine design for over 15 years as a designer and illustrator. His commercial clients include IKEA, Walgreens, the Sierra Club, and Virgin.
Acrylic, 8"H.
Nature Otokonoko
Christina Conway
San Diego, CA
Conway is a San Diego based artist, curator, and teacher. She conceived and implemented the well received Kokeshi Custom Show at the Subtext Gallery in San Diego, and the show’s second iteration at the Japanese America National Museum in July 2009 as part of Kokeshi: From Folk Toy to Art Toy (a collaboration between JANM and the LATDA Museum).
Acrylic Paint, 8"H.
Little Treasure (Pirate)
PESKIMO
Bristol, UK
Peskimo is a illustration/design duo based in the U.K.
Acrylic paint markers, 8"H.
Ume Hime
Sachiho Hino
Torrance, CA
Paint and washi paper, 8"H.
Inner Glow / Outer Grow
Steve Rolston
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Acrylic paint, 8"H.
The Japanese American National Museum in association with Dacosta of Chocolate Soop brought together artists who customized Chocolate Soop’s DCTO (Dream Come True Object), a futuristic vinyl version of the traditional Japanese daruma.
Check out the photos below to view the various artists’ interpretations. A few of the pieces are available to purchase at the JANM Store.
Tako Rikishi (Octopus Sumo)
Joel Nakamura
Santa Fe, NM
Born sometime between the Korean War and the Bay of Pigs in the City of Los Angeles, Joel Nakamura is a graduate of the world-renowned Art Center College of Design in Pasadena where he later became an instructor.
He, his wife Kathleen, and their two children live about 10 minutes south of Santa Fe Plaza. His work has been featured in newspapers and magazines across the United States. He has been the subject of numerous one-man shows, with his home gallery Hahn-Ross on Canyon Road in Santa Fe.
Polymers, 8"H.
Fire Ants Pants
Camilla d’Errico
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Canadian-Italian artist Camilla d’Errico’s client list includes Dark Horse Comics, Image Comics, Random House, Tokyopop, Hasbro, Disney, Sanrio, Neil Gaiman, and she also works with video game and movie companies on character development. Her own characters and properties, Tanpopo and Helmetgirls, are loved by fans and followers and now inspire Cosplay costumes.
Acrylic 8"H.
Glucose Dreams
Megz Majewski
Calgary, AB, Canada
Majewski enjoys bringing life to characters on-screen, but her true passion is painting those that do not possess life. Her first solo art show was an incredible accomplishment: she successfully created 100 paintings in 100 days. The positive response to her art has inspired her to keep painting ghoulish vixens and zombie-eyed sweethearts, especially for little girls whose dollies have only one eye.
Acrylic 8"H.
Karada Bijutsu (Body Art)
Joel Nakamura
Santa Fe, NM
Born sometime between the Korean War and the Bay of Pigs in the City of Los Angeles, Joel Nakamura is a graduate of the world-renowned Art Center College of Design in Pasadena where he later became an instructor.
He, his wife Kathleen, and their two children live about 10 minutes south of Santa Fe Plaza. His work has been featured in newspapers and magazines across the United States. He has been the subject of numerous one-man shows, with his home gallery Hahn-Ross on Canyon Road in Santa Fe.
Polymers and ink, 8"H.
Time + Perseverance x Open Mind = Hope
Kazumi Kobayashi Svenson
Wrightwood, CA
Vinyl and hand-blown glass, 8"H.
Future Hope
David Svenson
Wrightwood, CA
Svenson’s medium of choice is usually neon or wood. Exhibiting widely, he creates whimsical, glowing sculptures which are often Japanese-themed. He’s also a teacher and lecturer, and is on the board of the Museum of Neon Art, Los Angeles.
Vinyl, Bondo, and paint.
Airborne One
Donna Ikkanda
Los Angeles, CA
swirling, floating
dreams are autumn leaves falling
from a tree still full
Growing up in West Los Angeles, this Sansei artist studied Fine Arts at UCLA in the late 1960s and early ’70s, but her greatest artistic influences can be drawn within her own cultural background. “No matter what the subject matter, traditional Japanese art always combines all these elements in a way which is simultaneously dynamic, graceful, rich, deep, clean, and pure. It’s a very strong visual tradition.“
Mixed media, 8"H.
Airborne Too
Donna Ikkanda
Los Angeles, CA
to sing while soaring
sunlight defines each feather
untethered spirit
Growing up in West Los Angeles, this Sansei artist studied Fine Arts at UCLA in the late 1960s and early ’70s, but her greatest artistic influences can be drawn within her own cultural background. “No matter what the subject matter, traditional Japanese art always combines all these elements in a way which is simultaneously dynamic, graceful, rich, deep, clean, and pure. It’s a very strong visual tradition.“
Mixed media, 8"H.
Mouth
Yoshii
Tokyo, Japan
Yoshii is an acclaimed digital artist in Japan. He is a pioneer in the use of Corel Painter to make digital images in the Japanese illustration world. He freelanced as an illustrator and created various characters for major TV programs, commercials, corporate websites, campaigns, and events. Yoshii specializes in crystallizing characters for his clients’ needs with little direction.
Acrylic, 8"H.
Okasane Darumikan
Qris Yamashita
Los Angeles, CA
While meditating Daruma once fell asleep and was so angry with himself that he ripped off his eyelids so he would never sleep again. Where his eyelids fell, the first tea bushes grew; and when monks brewed the leaves of the bush it enabled them to stay awake through their own meditations.
Yamashita is well known in the community not only for her superb graphic design skills and spirited taiko drumming, but over the years she has produced a series of beautiful mochitsuki posters, which are reflected in this homage to the daruma.
Mixed media, 20"H including stem.
Coatl de Oro
Jesse Hernandez
Concord, CA
An urban vinyl artist from the Bay area, Jesse counts among his heroes: Crazy Horse, Geronimo, Che Guevara, Cesar Chavez, Santana, Roman Nose, and Bob Marley.
Spray paint and enamel, 8"H.
Karma Dreams
Neal Yamamoto
Los Angeles, CA
Enamel paint, 8"H.
The Fecund DCTO
Steve Talkowski
Brooklyn, NY
Acrylic paint and paint markers, 8"H.
Inner Truth
Gary van der Steur
Los Angeles, CA
Gary is a designer/illustrator and occasional fine artist who lives and works in Los Angeles. In his spare time he dabbles in composing music. He has many clients in the non-profit world.
Iron, leather, bitumen, unidentified materials, 8"H.
Prototype DCTO, Mark 1
Charles Hui (Chuckboy)
Los Angeles, CA
Chrome paint, metal rivets, and styrene plastic, 8"H.
Haragei (Center of Experience)
Joel Nakamura
Santa Fe, NM
Born sometime between the Korean War and the Bay of Pigs in the City of Los Angeles, Joel Nakamura is a graduate of the world-renowned Art Center College of Design in Pasadena where he later became an instructor.
He, his wife Kathleen, and their two children live about 10 minutes south of Santa Fe Plaza. His work has been featured in newspapers and magazines across the United States. He has been the subject of numerous one-man shows, with his home gallery Hahn-Ross on Canyon Road in Santa Fe.
Polymers, 8"H.
k-wing rebel
kaNO kid
Elmhurst, NY
Acrylic, 8"H.
Nest
Julie West
Derby, UK
Paint, sticks, and bird, 8"H.
The Dream Machine
Judson Beaumont
Vancouver, BC, Canada
“When I first saw Dacosta’s Daruma, I loved the overall shape of it. I began toying with different ideas and concepts but eventually ended up at the idea of transforming it into a car. I wanted to try something different and being that the show is in Los Angeles, I wanted to pay homage to the huge car customizing culture in LA, which I have always been a big fan of. I named this piece the Dream Machine, let’s see where it will go.” —Judson
Fiberglas, wood, paint, and fur, approx. 8"H.
Untitled
Koji Takei
Los Angeles, CA
Before transitioning to fine art, Koji owned and operated a successful graphic design firm in Los Angeles. He has received recognition for his work from many professional organizations including awards from New York Art Director’s Club, American Institute of Graphic Arts, Los Angeles Art Director’s Club, Communication Arts, and Society of Typographic Arts. His work has been published in Graphis Magazine, Print Magazine, Communication Arts, and various publications in Japan and South Korea.
Plaster and wood, 8"H.
Zen Cycle
Trevor McKay
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Acrylic and apoxie sculpt, 9"H.
Krust-aruma
Marilyn Frandsen
Los Angeles, CA
Frandsen owns and operates the design studio in Hollywood that currently produces the incredibly over-the-top, uber-designed packaging for Fox’s The Simpsons™ DVDs, among other properties.
Mixed media, 10"H.
Pandaruma
Kazuko Shinoka
Los Angeles, CA
Fabric, stand, and bamboo vase, approx. 8"H.
White Dreams
Charuca
Barcelona, Spain
Charuca.net is a design studio in Barcelona, Spain, created in 2004 and specializing in character design, toy design, identity, and illustration.
Mixed media, 8"H.
Totoro Jizou
Dacosta!
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Acrylic, rigid foam, and apoxie.
My Favorite Neighbor
Lou Pimentel
Brooklyn, NY
Oil paint.
O.W.L.
Dan Goodsell
Los Angeles, CA
Goodsell is co-author of Krazy Kids Food and Taschen 2003; he is also the creator of Mr. Toast, Shaky Bacon, and a host of interesting friends.
Felt, 8"H.
The Earth
Itokin Park
Kanagawa, Japan
Acrylic, 8"H.
Untitled
Brent Nolasco
Allentown, PA
Acrylic, 8"H.
Mask
Stuart Rapeport
Los Angeles, CA
Latex paint, 8"H.
Untitled
Mark Nagata
San Francisco, CA
V-Color paint, 8"H.
Untitled
Peter Taylor
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Acrylic paint and gold leaf, 8"H.
Honey Crisp
Shawn O’Conner
Edmonton, AB, Canada
Acrylic and polymer paint.
Microgravity
Scott Wetterschneider
Austin, TX
Acrylic
Portrait of Chicken Boy
Amy Inouye
Los Angeles, CA
Crocheted cotton, 8"H.
Golden Eyed Innocence
Leecifer
Oakland, CA
Mixed media, 8"H.
Cotton Candy Scream
Cameron Tiede
Flower Mound, TX
Acrylic, 8"H.
Moon Watcher
Mark Pilon
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Every aspect of Pilon’s art is carefully computer drawn and then meticulously painted in acrylic layers, to give them a sharp, print-like synthetic quality. Mark has worked in magazine design for over 15 years as a designer and illustrator. His commercial clients include IKEA, Walgreens, the Sierra Club, and Virgin.
Acrylic, 8"H.
Nature Otokonoko
Christina Conway
San Diego, CA
Conway is a San Diego based artist, curator, and teacher. She conceived and implemented the well received Kokeshi Custom Show at the Subtext Gallery in San Diego, and the show’s second iteration at the Japanese America National Museum in July 2009 as part of Kokeshi: From Folk Toy to Art Toy (a collaboration between JANM and the LATDA Museum).
Acrylic Paint, 8"H.
Little Treasure (Pirate)
PESKIMO
Bristol, UK
Peskimo is a illustration/design duo based in the U.K.
Acrylic paint markers, 8"H.
Ume Hime
Sachiho Hino
Torrance, CA
Paint and washi paper, 8"H.
Inner Glow / Outer Grow
Steve Rolston
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Acrylic paint, 8"H.
Extended through January 25, 2009!
The Japanese American National Museum in association with Dacosta of Chocolate Soop brought together artists who customized Chocolate Soop’s DCTO (Dream Come True Object), a futuristic vinyl version of the traditional Japanese daruma.
Check out the photos below to view the various artists’ interpretations. A few of the pieces are available to purchase at the JANM Store.
Tako Rikishi (Octopus Sumo)
Joel Nakamura
Santa Fe, NM
Born sometime between the Korean War and the Bay of Pigs in the City of Los Angeles, Joel Nakamura is a graduate of the world-renowned Art Center College of Design in Pasadena where he later became an instructor.
He, his wife Kathleen, and their two children live about 10 minutes south of Santa Fe Plaza. His work has been featured in newspapers and magazines across the United States. He has been the subject of numerous one-man shows, with his home gallery Hahn-Ross on Canyon Road in Santa Fe.
Polymers, 8"H.
Fire Ants Pants
Camilla d’Errico
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Canadian-Italian artist Camilla d’Errico’s client list includes Dark Horse Comics, Image Comics, Random House, Tokyopop, Hasbro, Disney, Sanrio, Neil Gaiman, and she also works with video game and movie companies on character development. Her own characters and properties, Tanpopo and Helmetgirls, are loved by fans and followers and now inspire Cosplay costumes.
Acrylic 8"H.
Glucose Dreams
Megz Majewski
Calgary, AB, Canada
Majewski enjoys bringing life to characters on-screen, but her true passion is painting those that do not possess life. Her first solo art show was an incredible accomplishment: she successfully created 100 paintings in 100 days. The positive response to her art has inspired her to keep painting ghoulish vixens and zombie-eyed sweethearts, especially for little girls whose dollies have only one eye.
Acrylic 8"H.
Karada Bijutsu (Body Art)
Joel Nakamura
Santa Fe, NM
Born sometime between the Korean War and the Bay of Pigs in the City of Los Angeles, Joel Nakamura is a graduate of the world-renowned Art Center College of Design in Pasadena where he later became an instructor.
He, his wife Kathleen, and their two children live about 10 minutes south of Santa Fe Plaza. His work has been featured in newspapers and magazines across the United States. He has been the subject of numerous one-man shows, with his home gallery Hahn-Ross on Canyon Road in Santa Fe.
Polymers and ink, 8"H.
Time + Perseverance x Open Mind = Hope
Kazumi Kobayashi Svenson
Wrightwood, CA
Vinyl and hand-blown glass, 8"H.
Future Hope
David Svenson
Wrightwood, CA
Svenson’s medium of choice is usually neon or wood. Exhibiting widely, he creates whimsical, glowing sculptures which are often Japanese-themed. He’s also a teacher and lecturer, and is on the board of the Museum of Neon Art, Los Angeles.
Vinyl, Bondo, and paint.
Airborne One
Donna Ikkanda
Los Angeles, CA
swirling, floating
dreams are autumn leaves falling
from a tree still full
Growing up in West Los Angeles, this Sansei artist studied Fine Arts at UCLA in the late 1960s and early ’70s, but her greatest artistic influences can be drawn within her own cultural background. “No matter what the subject matter, traditional Japanese art always combines all these elements in a way which is simultaneously dynamic, graceful, rich, deep, clean, and pure. It’s a very strong visual tradition.“
Mixed media, 8"H.
Airborne Too
Donna Ikkanda
Los Angeles, CA
to sing while soaring
sunlight defines each feather
untethered spirit
Growing up in West Los Angeles, this Sansei artist studied Fine Arts at UCLA in the late 1960s and early ’70s, but her greatest artistic influences can be drawn within her own cultural background. “No matter what the subject matter, traditional Japanese art always combines all these elements in a way which is simultaneously dynamic, graceful, rich, deep, clean, and pure. It’s a very strong visual tradition.“
Mixed media, 8"H.
Mouth
Yoshii
Tokyo, Japan
Yoshii is an acclaimed digital artist in Japan. He is a pioneer in the use of Corel Painter to make digital images in the Japanese illustration world. He freelanced as an illustrator and created various characters for major TV programs, commercials, corporate websites, campaigns, and events. Yoshii specializes in crystallizing characters for his clients’ needs with little direction.
Acrylic, 8"H.
Okasane Darumikan
Qris Yamashita
Los Angeles, CA
While meditating Daruma once fell asleep and was so angry with himself that he ripped off his eyelids so he would never sleep again. Where his eyelids fell, the first tea bushes grew; and when monks brewed the leaves of the bush it enabled them to stay awake through their own meditations.
Yamashita is well known in the community not only for her superb graphic design skills and spirited taiko drumming, but over the years she has produced a series of beautiful mochitsuki posters, which are reflected in this homage to the daruma.
Mixed media, 20"H including stem.
Coatl de Oro
Jesse Hernandez
Concord, CA
An urban vinyl artist from the Bay area, Jesse counts among his heroes: Crazy Horse, Geronimo, Che Guevara, Cesar Chavez, Santana, Roman Nose, and Bob Marley.
Spray paint and enamel, 8"H.
Karma Dreams
Neal Yamamoto
Los Angeles, CA
Enamel paint, 8"H.
The Fecund DCTO
Steve Talkowski
Brooklyn, NY
Acrylic paint and paint markers, 8"H.
Inner Truth
Gary van der Steur
Los Angeles, CA
Gary is a designer/illustrator and occasional fine artist who lives and works in Los Angeles. In his spare time he dabbles in composing music. He has many clients in the non-profit world.
Iron, leather, bitumen, unidentified materials, 8"H.
Prototype DCTO, Mark 1
Charles Hui (Chuckboy)
Los Angeles, CA
Chrome paint, metal rivets, and styrene plastic, 8"H.
Haragei (Center of Experience)
Joel Nakamura
Santa Fe, NM
Born sometime between the Korean War and the Bay of Pigs in the City of Los Angeles, Joel Nakamura is a graduate of the world-renowned Art Center College of Design in Pasadena where he later became an instructor.
He, his wife Kathleen, and their two children live about 10 minutes south of Santa Fe Plaza. His work has been featured in newspapers and magazines across the United States. He has been the subject of numerous one-man shows, with his home gallery Hahn-Ross on Canyon Road in Santa Fe.
Polymers, 8"H.
k-wing rebel
kaNO kid
Elmhurst, NY
Acrylic, 8"H.
Nest
Julie West
Derby, UK
Paint, sticks, and bird, 8"H.
The Dream Machine
Judson Beaumont
Vancouver, BC, Canada
“When I first saw Dacosta’s Daruma, I loved the overall shape of it. I began toying with different ideas and concepts but eventually ended up at the idea of transforming it into a car. I wanted to try something different and being that the show is in Los Angeles, I wanted to pay homage to the huge car customizing culture in LA, which I have always been a big fan of. I named this piece the Dream Machine, let’s see where it will go.” —Judson
Fiberglas, wood, paint, and fur, approx. 8"H.
Untitled
Koji Takei
Los Angeles, CA
Before transitioning to fine art, Koji owned and operated a successful graphic design firm in Los Angeles. He has received recognition for his work from many professional organizations including awards from New York Art Director’s Club, American Institute of Graphic Arts, Los Angeles Art Director’s Club, Communication Arts, and Society of Typographic Arts. His work has been published in Graphis Magazine, Print Magazine, Communication Arts, and various publications in Japan and South Korea.
Plaster and wood, 8"H.
Zen Cycle
Trevor McKay
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Acrylic and apoxie sculpt, 9"H.
Krust-aruma
Marilyn Frandsen
Los Angeles, CA
Frandsen owns and operates the design studio in Hollywood that currently produces the incredibly over-the-top, uber-designed packaging for Fox’s The Simpsons™ DVDs, among other properties.
Mixed media, 10"H.
Pandaruma
Kazuko Shinoka
Los Angeles, CA
Fabric, stand, and bamboo vase, approx. 8"H.
White Dreams
Charuca
Barcelona, Spain
Charuca.net is a design studio in Barcelona, Spain, created in 2004 and specializing in character design, toy design, identity, and illustration.
Mixed media, 8"H.
Totoro Jizou
Dacosta!
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Acrylic, rigid foam, and apoxie.
My Favorite Neighbor
Lou Pimentel
Brooklyn, NY
Oil paint.
O.W.L.
Dan Goodsell
Los Angeles, CA
Goodsell is co-author of Krazy Kids Food and Taschen 2003; he is also the creator of Mr. Toast, Shaky Bacon, and a host of interesting friends.
Felt, 8"H.
The Earth
Itokin Park
Kanagawa, Japan
Acrylic, 8"H.
Untitled
Brent Nolasco
Allentown, PA
Acrylic, 8"H.
Mask
Stuart Rapeport
Los Angeles, CA
Latex paint, 8"H.
Untitled
Mark Nagata
San Francisco, CA
V-Color paint, 8"H.
Untitled
Peter Taylor
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Acrylic paint and gold leaf, 8"H.
Honey Crisp
Shawn O’Conner
Edmonton, AB, Canada
Acrylic and polymer paint.
Microgravity
Scott Wetterschneider
Austin, TX
Acrylic
Portrait of Chicken Boy
Amy Inouye
Los Angeles, CA
Crocheted cotton, 8"H.
Golden Eyed Innocence
Leecifer
Oakland, CA
Mixed media, 8"H.
Cotton Candy Scream
Cameron Tiede
Flower Mound, TX
Acrylic, 8"H.
Moon Watcher
Mark Pilon
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Every aspect of Pilon’s art is carefully computer drawn and then meticulously painted in acrylic layers, to give them a sharp, print-like synthetic quality. Mark has worked in magazine design for over 15 years as a designer and illustrator. His commercial clients include IKEA, Walgreens, the Sierra Club, and Virgin.
Acrylic, 8"H.
Nature Otokonoko
Christina Conway
San Diego, CA
Conway is a San Diego based artist, curator, and teacher. She conceived and implemented the well received Kokeshi Custom Show at the Subtext Gallery in San Diego, and the show’s second iteration at the Japanese America National Museum in July 2009 as part of Kokeshi: From Folk Toy to Art Toy (a collaboration between JANM and the LATDA Museum).
Acrylic Paint, 8"H.
Little Treasure (Pirate)
PESKIMO
Bristol, UK
Peskimo is a illustration/design duo based in the U.K.
Acrylic paint markers, 8"H.
Ume Hime
Sachiho Hino
Torrance, CA
Paint and washi paper, 8"H.
Inner Glow / Outer Grow
Steve Rolston
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Acrylic paint, 8"H.
Extended through January 25, 2009!