Sket One

Last updated
Sket One
BornAndrew Yasgar
Nationality American
Area(s)Graffiti Artist, Illustrator
http://www.sket-one.com/

Sket One (born August 16, 1970) is an American artist. He was raised in New Haven, Connecticut. He started off his artistic career as an American graffiti artist in the 1990s he created and ran Unitee Clothing, a shirt design company, while looking for full-time work as a designer. [1] [2] [3] He eventually landed a position as Creative Director for the Silverman Group.

Contents

Art and career

"High & Dry" for Night & Day Solo Show Sket One Artwork High and Dry.jpg
"High & Dry" for Night & Day Solo Show

Toys

Sket's career moved forward with his inclusion in the first series of Dunny blind-boxed mini-figures in 2004, produced by at the time little known Kidrobot. [4] Sket made and continues to make the most of the newfound exposure by designing figures for several designer vinyl companies including Kidrobot, Red Magic, Kaching Brands, Solid Industries, and 3D Retro. Collectors became familiar with Sket's art through his toys. [5] [6]

While Sket first made his name in designer toys with production figures such as his Dunny Designs. The Dunny shape, which is a curved toy bunny created by Tristan Eaton with a smooth face is designed to be repainted and reinterpreted by artists from many different backgrounds. Sket was featured in at least four series produced by Kidrobot. General toy production pieces were also created, including self-designed and limited release figures such as vegetable-based Eggster and Buckeye Rot and Stay Puft Marshmallow Man-esque Ripple and the Dripple. More corporate toys were also designed by Sket, including a figure for the 3" Trexi series promoting Coca-Cola in 2008. [7] In 2012, he produced a custom shell for Boombotix, as part of their artist series.

Sket began to start experimenting in the growing popularity of the custom toy culture. Customs are one-off hand-painted versions of existing toys. One of Sket's first customs, the "Cover My Soul Dunny" [8] remixed paint company Sherwin-Williams’ paint can splash logo by turning the ‘ball’ into the Death Star, a symbol of the evil empire. Beyond the strong 3D imagery of paint pouring out of a can and onto the toy, the Star Wars reference invited viewers to discover meaning on their own terms.

"From the fully functional "Operation" Munny [9] based on the interactive surgery game of the same name to his inspired melding of an imperial speeder with the imagery and symbols of legendary daredevil, Evel Knievel. His recent "product" customs transforming several different toys into well-known food item containers from Hershey syrup to Tropicana Orange juice jugs. [10] In 2013 Sket combined Huy Fong Foods' Sriracha Sauce design and the Dunny shape. He also used the same design and concept with his Sketinguishers, which are fire extinguishers with different artistic images. All pieces are now owned by David Tran, the owner of Huy Fong Foods.

His work, both custom toys and original 2D pieces, have been shown in numerous galleries across the country including his inclusion in the Beyond the Cel show (September, 2007) [11] at the Mesa Arts Center in Arizona. This museum show featured the work of artists who have made a name for themselves incorporating cartoon imagery into their fine art. He was also showcased in the This is not a Toy exhibit at the Design Exchange Museum in Toronto, which was curated by Pharrell Williams.

Sket also designed skateboards for Zooyork and Stoked.org, skateboard trucks for Grind King Trucks, [12] snowboards for Crispy Whips, [13] and in 2013 worked with the Loyal Subjects and Hasbro on the Transformers Brand.

Notable art works include a live painting for Ford Flex Roofs at the NY Auto Show in 2008 [14] and a live painting for Namco Galaga's 30th Anniversary in 2011 at E3 Los Angeles.

His work can also be seen in art books such as Dot Dot Dash, [15] Full Vinyl, [16] I Am Plastic 1 and 2, [17] [18] N+1 Dimension Illustration, and on packaging for the Heinz Ketchup Dunny bottle.

Original toys produced

Selected solo shows

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Model figure</span> Scale model of a person or creature

A model figure is a scale model representing a human, monster or other creature. Human figures may be either a generic figure of a type, a historical personage, or a fictional character.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Kozik</span> American graphic artist (1962–2023)

Frank Kozik was an American graphic artist best known for his posters for alternative rock bands. With his prolific output and connections in the music industry, Kozik helped revitalize rock poster art in the late 1980s and 1990s, and was a founder of the modern art print scene. His album cover work included the bands Queens of the Stone Age and the Offspring. With his artistic versatility, he was also a pioneer in the designer toy movement, and later became the creative director of Kidrobot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Chueh</span> American painter

Luke Chueh is a Chinese-American lowbrow, pop surrealist, painter. His works is a juxtaposition of the cute with the macabre, including various self-portraits reimagining himself as a bear character.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Art toys</span>

Art toys, also called designer toys, are toys and collectibles created by artists and designers that are either self-produced or made by small, independent toy companies, typically in very limited editions. Artists use a variety of materials, such as ABS plastic, vinyl, wood, metal, latex, plush, and resin. Creators often have backgrounds in graphic design, illustration, or fine art, but many accomplished toy artists are self-taught. The first art toys appeared in the 1990s in Hong Kong and Japan. By the early 2000s, the majority of art toys were based upon characters created by popular Lowbrow artists, linking the two movements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kidrobot</span> American art toy company

Kidrobot is a producer and retailer of designer toys, vinyl art toys, and collectibles founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Paul Budnitz. The company was one of the earliest creators of designer art toys in America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Horvath</span> American writer

David Z. Horvath is an American illustrator, comics artist, toy designer and author best known for creating the popular Uglydoll characters as well as the world they inhabit, The Uglyverse, with his wife, Sun-Min Kim. The toy line began in 2001 with a single plush toy called Wage, hand sewn by his sweetheart and creative partner, Sun-Min Kim for David as a gift, and grew into the brand.

Toy2R is a designer toy company based in Hong Kong that was founded by Prof. Raymond Choy M.H. in 1995.

Bearbrick is a brand of collectible designer toys designed and produced by the Japanese company MediCom Toy Incorporated. The name is derived from the fact that the figure is a cartoon-style representation of a bear and that it is a variation of MediCom's Kubrick design. The at sign in the place of the letter a is a visual device that is a part of the Bearbrick brand, and as such, a trademark of MediCom Toy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TJ Norris</span> American interdisciplinary artist (born 1965)

TJ Norris is an American interdisciplinary artist known for his urban, conceptual photography and installation projects. Hailing from New England, Norris is also a celebrated curator and freelance writer based in Texas.

Mark Gee, better known as Huck Gee, is a contemporary artist, illustrator, toy maker, and designer best known by toy enthusiasts for his iconic "Skullhead" character. He works and lives in San Francisco, California.

Shocker Toys was a company that manufactured limited-release toys and products based on comic book and cartoon characters, as well as original creations. Founded in 1998, the company was run by Geoff Beckett Jr., Lance Buttiglieri, and Bill Roshia and was based in Ridgewood, New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Onell Design</span>

Onell Design is an independent toy company and artist collective. They produce the Glyos System Series featuring the characters Pheyden, Exellis, Crayboth, Argen, Gobon, Armodoc, Armorvor, Noboto, Buildman, Skeleden, and various others. The toys are made of interchangeable parts, and hearken back to the durable, small-scale action figures of the 1980s, such as Adventure People. The figures can be described as a cross between an Action figure and Lego. Onell Design toy figures are primarily sold directly by the manufacturer, although on occasion a release may be made available where a specially decorated figure is available elsewhere.

Nathan Jurevicius is a Canadian/Australian illustrator, director, toy designer, author, and fine artist whose diverse range of work has appeared in numerous publications, advertising campaigns, festivals, and galleries around the world.

Vinylmation is a brand of 1.5", 3", and 9" vinyl collectible toys sold at Disney theme parks, select Disney Stores, and the online Disney Store. The name Vinylmation is a combination of the word Animation and Vinyl. Most figures are all shaped with the body of Mickey Mouse but have different themed markings, colors, and patterns. This means that all figures have round mouse ears, whether or not the painted character has them. This is accommodated by painting the ears with backgrounds - stars, stripes, rainbows - to match the painted character. The series exception is the Park Starz series which does not resemble Mickey at all, and more closely resembles iconic figures from the parks. Vinylmation was first introduced in July 2008, and the first figures were introduced in November 2008.

Joe Ledbetter is an American artist and art toy designer from Los Angeles. He is considered part of the Pop Surrealism, Lowbrow Art Movement and Art and Designer Toys movement.

Andrew Bell is a British-born American artist and founder of Dead Zebra Inc. He specializes in creating collectible designer toys. Bell also works in a variety of other mediums from illustrations and paintings to sculptures. Much of his work is brought together by a sense of humor that often belies a more serious and sombre message. His company and toys have been featured in publications such as the New York Times. In addition to his extensive toy and art catalog, he has also published three books of drawings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David P. Flores</span> American painter

David P. Flores is an American artist, muralist and product designer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jermaine Rogers</span> American artist

Jermaine Rogers born on October 14, 1972, in Houston, Texas, is an artist and designer known for his contributions to modern rock/pop poster art, often referred to as 'gigposter' art. He has also made significant contributions to serigraph and fine art production. Rogers emerged as a prominent figure in the Texas poster-art scene of the 1990s, alongside renowned artists such as Frank Kozik, Uncle Charlie, and Lindsey Kuhn. His work has garnered recognition and acclaim in the field of poster art and beyond. Since 1995, Rogers has designed posters for a wide variety of musical acts, including Queens Of The Stone Age, David Bowie, Tool, Foo Fighters, Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Childish Gambino, The Cure, Run The Jewels, Public Enemy, Soundgarden, and many others. His work is viewed as influential in the modern resurgence of the art form, "continuously crafting images that push boundaries, whether social, cultural, or aesthetic". His work is cataloged among the permanent collections of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio as well as the Experience Music Project in Seattle, Washington. His work has been featured in various media, including print, television, and feature film. Rogers currently resides in Houston, TX. USA.

Tristan Eaton is an American artist. Primarily known for his toy designs and street art murals, Eaton is also a graphic designer and illustrator. In total, Eaton has painted about 100 murals around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse Hernandez (artist)</span> American tattoo artist and graphic designer

Jesse Hernandez is an American tattoo artist and graphic designer for video games and collectible toys. He was a part of the urban vinyl art movement of the 2010s. He was also the lead character and prop designer on United Front Games' ModNation Racers. His designs have been featured on Kidrobot's Dunny toys, including one owned by singer-songwriter Usher.

References

  1. "Video Interview". CT News Channel 8. December 2009.
  2. "(Archived) Interview "Barbie can't touch this"". Boston Globe . December 2006.
  3. "Interview". La Famiglia Magazine. 2008.
  4. "Kidrobot Profile". Kidrobot. 2010.
  5. "Interview". Vinyl Pulse. May 2005.
  6. "Interview". Stay True Video Magazine. 2010.
  7. "Trexi "A Better Tomorrow" series". Trexi.com.sg. 2008.
  8. "Kidrobot's Photo of the "Cover Your Soul Dunny"". Kidrobot. 2004.
  9. "Interview". Life in a Bungalo. March 2007.
  10. "Sket-One Mayonnaise Golden Ticket Dunny". Vinyl Pulse. September 2010.
  11. "Beyond the Cel show review". Vinyl Pulse. September 2007.
  12. O'Brien, Miranda (September 18, 2007). "Sket x Grind King..." Clutter. Clutter Media Group. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  13. "News Feature". Crispy Whips. December 2010.
  14. "Ford Flex Feature". Vinyl Pulse. March 2008.
  15. Dot Dot Dash, ISBN   978-3-89955-161-7, pages 186, 189, 194, 195, 201-203, 214-215
  16. Full Vinyl:Designer Toys, Urban Figures and More, ISBN   0-06-089338-9
  17. I Am Plastic 1, ISBN   0-8109-5846-5
  18. I Am Plastic Too, ISBN   978-0-8109-8887-3
  19. "Buckeye Rot". Vinyl Creep. 2008.
  20. "Ripple". Vinyl Creep. 2007.
  21. "Oil". Vinyl Creep. 2007.
  22. "Sket Bots". Vinyl Creep. 2007.
  23. "Eggster". Vinyl Creep. 2005.
  24. "Kidrobot's Flickr re Rewind show". Kidrobot. 2009.
  25. "Sket One – You Asked For it for All Tomorrow's Parties". Vinyl Pulse. October 2008.
  26. "Snake Eyes at Circa". Vinyl Pulse. May 2008.
  27. "Night & Day Artwork". My Plastic Heart. 2007.
  28. "Kidrobot's Flickr Coverage of "Being Labelled Trouble"". Kidrobot. 2004.