Tag Archives: ugly dolls

David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim at GR2 in Los Angeles!

David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim at GR2
September 11 – September 29, 2010
Reception: Saturday, September 11, 6:30 – 10:00

Giant Robot is proud to host Photos from the Uglyverse, an art show featuring work by Uglydolls creators (and Parsons Illustration Alumni) David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim.

In 2001, Sun-Min turned a drawing on the bottom of letters from David into a hand-sewn doll. It was Wage, the first Uglydoll ever. After David brought the piece to the newly opened Giant Robot store, it evolved into a toy with a rabid following–selling out at shops around the world, appearing in movies, creating spin-offs, spawning bootlegs, and inspiring a new wave of stuffed plushes.

Photos from the Uglyverse will include a collection of super-limited edition of prints taken from Horvath and Kim’s current projects with Abrams Books and beyond. Horvath adds, “Can’t find GR2? Just look for the giant jumping Uglydoll outside!”

GR2
2062 Sawtelle Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
gr2.net
(310) 445-9276

Uglycon 3 at Giant Robot New York tomorrow!

uglycon!

Giant Robot is proud to host the third annual Uglydoll convention at GRNY.

In 2001, Sun-Min Kim (Parsons Illustration Alum) turned a drawing on the bottom of letters from David Horvath (Parsons Illustration Alum) into a hand-sewn doll. It was Wage, the first Uglydoll ever. After David brought the piece to the newly opened Giant Robot store, it evolved into a toy with a rabid following – selling out at shops around the world, appearing in movies, creating spin-offs, spawning bootlegs, and inspiring a new wave of stuffed plushes.

This year’s art show offerings will include original paintings by Sun-Min, black-and-white drawings by David, and print-and-drawing sets from Uglycon Tokyo. Also available for purchase will be rare toys such as test samples from past lines, signed prototypes, and “test shots” of kaiju figures.

In the tradition of the first two Uglycons, there will be costume contest in which fans are asked to dress up as their favorite Uglydoll. Winners chosen by David and Sun-Min will receive a bounty of prizes.

And there will be even more, including a sneak peek at a never-before-seen Uglydoll for 2009.

The first two Uglycons caused an online buzz and attracted fans from around the country and overseas. We expect the New York occasion to be even bigger. To facilitate demand and eliminate uncomfortable lineups, raffle tickets for making purchases will be handed out beginning at 12:00 noon. Starting at 3:00, these tickets will be drawn to determine the order of sales.

The opening reception will begin tomorrow at 12:00 noon on Saturday, December 6.

December 6 – January 7, 2008
Reception: Saturday, December 6, 12:00 noon
Giant Robot Gallery
437 East 9th Street Between 1st Ave. & Ave. A
in the East Village
New York, New York 10009

(212) 674-GRNY (4769) | grny.net

David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim at Giant Robot 2

gr2 flier
Deharavath Art Show
opening Giant Robot (GR2)

featuring works by Yukinori Dehara, David Horvath, and Sun-Min Kim
April 19 – May 14

Reception: Saturday, April 19, 6:30 – 10:00

Parsons Illustration Alums David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim have new works in a show going up at Giant Robot 2 later this month. Here’s more info taken from the official press release:

Giant Robot is proud to host Deharavath, a group art show featuring the work of Yukinori Dehara, David Horvath, and Sun-Min Kim… David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim are best known for creating of UglyDolls, the indie plush dolls that have gained a rabid worldwide following and sparked a movement of cool handmade toys. For this show, the duo is making one-of-a-kind framed prints, drawings, paintings, and handmade plush surprises. Horvath and Kim promise that everything will be all new, including a special Ice Bat kaiju figure made in conjunction with Dehara.

GR2
2062 Sawtelle Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
gr2.net
(310) 445-9276

Ugly Dolls written up in the New York Times

ugly dolls for boys?

Parsons Alums David Horvath & Sun-Min Kim are in the news with their creation–Ugly Dolls. Here’s an excerpt from the New York Times article:

The Uglies are neither superheros nor stuffed animals. They’re not as saccharine as Beanie Babies or Cabbage Patch kids. They’re a bit like characters from Sesame Street (Cookie Monster comes to mind) and a bit like E.T., except without pasty skin or the spring-loaded neck.

David Horvath, who created them with Sun-Min Kim — then his girlfriend, now his wife — says they were inspired by the bootleg videos they both grew up watching: Japanese robots and shows like “Battle Fever J,” which begat the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

The inspiration for Uglies, he joked, was Ultraman and Gamera.

That’s hard to buy, since they are the antithesis of huggable: Ultraman is Japan’s metal-skulled Ironman, vanquishing monsters with karate kicks and electric bolts that slice heads off. Gamera is a giant flying turtle whose leg holes shoot flames.

Check out the rest of the article here and see more of David and Sun-Min’s Ugly Dolls at their website.

The Illustration Holiday Shopping List: The Finale

Here it is, the last installment of the Illustration Holiday Shopping List. Make sure to check the other three episodes in the series!

art out of time

Illustration Faculty Dan Nadel completed his huge compendium work–Art Out of Time–during his time here at Parsons, and it’s a doozy. From the official write-up about the book:

Art Out of Time reprints complete comic book and comic strip stories, most of which are being reprinted here for the first time since their initial publication. Among the artists included are Rory Hayes, Gene Deitch, Dick Briefer, Boody Rogers, and Charles Forbell. In five thematic sections, this anthology is a counter-history of comics, containing nearly thirty often-unknown visionary American cartoonists from 1900 to 1969. These artists foreshadowed and influenced the innovations within the comics medium of today.

You can find copies of Dan’s book (as well as a plethora of other books, shirts, prints, etc.) at PictureBox, his publishing outfit.

blab 18

As previously reported, Illustration Chair Steven Guarnaccia and Illustration Faculty Nora Krug are featured in the latest issue of Blab! Magazine, compiled by Monte Beauchamp. Blab! is an annual collection of some of the finest and most exciting visual work out there today. Steven’s piece focuses on miniature golf, while Nora focuses on a more serious subject: No Man’s Land.

Get your copy from Fantagraphics!

teaching illustration

A plethora of Illustration Faculty members are included in Steve Heller and Marshall Arisman‘s great resource book: Teaching Illustration. The book includes syllabi from an array of Illustration courses and describes different teaching techniques that can be utilized to really help create more productive classes. From the official description of the book:

Teaching Illustration is a must-have for any college-level art instructor. Packed with a wealth of illustration course syllabi from leading art and design schools across the U.S. and Europe, it offers exciting ideas on topics from editorial illustration to animation, books, and the Internet. Each syllabus includes an introduction, course requirements, a weekly breakdown, suggestions for projects, and selected readings–a comprehensive array of topics, reading lists, and teaching tips for courses at all levels. For beginning educators seeking guidance or for veterans seeking new inspiration, Teaching Illustration is essential for the craft of teaching the next generation of illustrators.

Illustration Faculty members Viktor Koen, Trey Hoyumpa (also an Illustration alumna!), Neil Swaab, Nora Krug, and Dan Nadel all have featured syllabi! This is a great book for instructors, students, and anyone interested in learning/teaching more effectively. You can purchase the book here!

bossy bearugly target

Illustration Alumni Sun Min Kim and David Horvath have a ton of their incredibly popular Ugly Dolls available practically everywhere you go, as well as copies of David’s recent book (and toy) Bossy Bear.

You can buy both of these rockin’ items through Giant Robot, but make sure to check out David and Sun Min’s websites as well for news, artwork, and other bits of merchandise that might be out there.

best american comics

While we’re waiting for Illustration Faculty Ben Katchor to finish up his new book, you can check out some of his work in the latest volume of Best American Comics (2007), edited by Chris Ware. Publisher’s Weekly states:

This collection isn’t about such heroes or villains, it’s about humor, fear, the finely observed details of life, and things of a generally more personal and less world-threatening nature. That (as well as a predilection toward Midwestern artists) is what you get when Ware (Acme Novelty Library) is guest editor. The book includes work from 39 different artists, but it’s hard to find a weak entry…

Grab your copy here and then go over to Ben’s website for a comic archive, as well as more news about his goings-on.

News about Illustration Alumni David Horvath & Ugly Dolls

bossy bear bookbossy bear with box

David Horvath, Illustration Department alum and co-creator of Ugly Dolls (with his wife Sun Min Kim, who is also an Illustration alum!), has a new toy out based on the title character from his first picture book, Bossy Bear. Both the book and the toy are available now at Giant Robot and online.

Additionally, the first ever Uglycon will be held this December. Here’s some info from David’s blog:

uglycon

UGLYCON!
Saturday December 8th at 6PM!
GIANT ROBOT
618 Shrader St
San Francisco, CA 94117

COSTUME CONTEST! Dress up as your favorite or least favorite UGLY
and win super secret prizes!

What is Uglycon? It’s original art, prints, paintings, hand made Uglys,
limited production Uglycon exclusives, and fun for all!

____

Congratulations to David and Sun Min on their continued success after Parsons!

(all images by David Horvath and Giant Robot)