Toys As Art, Art Inspired By Toys: Mattel's 80th Anniversary Group Exhibition

OPENING RECEPTION

March 15, 2025 | 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm

ON VIEW

March 15 – April 19, 2025

COREY HELFORD GALLERY

571 S. Anderson St. Los Angeles, CA 90033

Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

(310) 287-2340

Downtown Los Angeles’ Corey Helford Gallery (CHG) is excited to announce its next major collaboration, Toys As Art, Art Inspired By Toys: Mattel's 80th Anniversary Group Exhibition, in partnership with Mattel Creations, Mattel, Inc.’s collaboration platform that invites artists and creators to reimagine the company’s rich intellectual properties. Set to debut on Saturday, March 15th in the Main Gallery, marking the kick-off of the legendary toy company’s year-long 80th anniversary celebration, this special event will feature new and original, one-of-a-kind artwork, inspired by Mattel’s iconic brands, from over 80 visionary artists around the globe.

Mattel Creations collaborates with artists, designers, and pop culture icons to create unique collectible versions of Mattel’s toys that appeal to both adult collectors and art enthusiasts. To celebrate the anniversary milestone, the El-Segundo, CA-based company and CHG are bringing together a diverse range of established and emerging artists, each with a unique story to tell, to reimagine Mattel’s toys into compelling works of art, weaving personal narratives and childhood memories into a rich tapestry of creative interpretation. 

”Buddy” by Yokoteen

“Thrill Of It All” by Brandi Milne

“Attack of the 150 ft Barbie” by Eric Joyner

“Madonna and Child” by Bennett Slater

“Barbie with Meat” by Mark Ryden

From the “Godfather of Pop Surrealism” Mark Ryden and art icon Paul Frank to the award-winning interdisciplinary artist Gary Baseman and world-renowned London-based multimedia artist D*Face, these artists will explore how Mattel's iconic brands (including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends™, UNO®, Masters of the Universe®, Matchbox®,Monster High®, MEGA®, Polly Pocket®, and more) have shaped imaginations and inspired creative journeys across generations. This exhibition stands as both a celebration of Mattel's legacy and a testament to the transformative power of play in shaping artistic expression. In addition, this joyous experience will also offer attendees an exclusive glimpse into the company’s history with the Mattel Creations space in Gallery 3. Each wall will feature a vibrant, artistic, and engaging display of Mattel’s most popular brands, taking audiences on a journey of origin stories and creative processes behind their toys, as well as the artistry and craftsmanship of their present-day reimagined collectibles.

“Swell” by Gary Baseman

 Toys As Art, Art Inspired By Toys: Mattel's 80th Anniversary Group Exhibition will be accompanied by a series of curated events hosted at CHG while the show is on display, including:

·         Saturday, March 22nd from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Meet featured artist Gary Baseman for a signing of his UNO deck and hear about how toys and growing up in Los Angeles influenced his art, plus join in for UNO Game Play

·         Saturday, March 29th from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm: Hear a diverse panel of artists (including Brandi Milne, Jim McKenzie, ONCH, and more) share childhood stories featuring their favorite Mattel toys, as well as discuss their creative process, inspirations, and more

·         Saturday, April 5th from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm: Re-connect with your inner-child through a playful workshop hosted by Case Kenny (author, mindfulness expert, and host of the popular podcast New Mindset, Who Dis?) + UNO Game Play

The artist roster for Toys As Art, Art Inspired By Toys features:

Adam Wallacavage

ADD FUEL

Ana Bagayan

Andrea Guzzetta

Andrew Brandou

Annie Montgomerie

Anthony Ausgang

Anthony Sunter

Bennett Slater

Bob Dob

Bob Gibson from The London Police

Brady Willmott

Brandi Milne

Camilla d'Errico

Case Maclaim

Cey Adams

Chen-Dao Lee

Chishi Morimura

Christopher Ulrich

Christybomb

Clémentine Bal

coarse

D*Face

DABSMYLA

Dan Lam

Dave Bondi

Dave Shuten

Dena Seiferling

Eric Joyner

Ewa Prończuk-Kuziak

Fidia Falaschetti

Gary Baseman

Ginger Chen

Handiedan

Harald Austad

HERA of Herakut

Hikari Shimoda

Iris Kim (Inner-City Arts)

Jasmine Becket-Griffith

JD King

Jennybird Alcantara

Jim McKenzie

Joe Ledbetter

Johnny KMNDZ Rodriguez

Jun Makita

Junko Mizuno

Kellesimone Waits

Kelogsloops

Kent Williams

Kiera Evans (Inner-City Arts)

Kii Arens

Korin Faught

Lucy Sparrow

Luke Chueh

Madeline Chae (Inner-City Arts)

Marc Le Rest

Marilyn Garcia (Inner-City Arts)

Marion Peck

Mark Ryden

Mark Todd

Matthew Dutton

Miss Mindy

Natalia Fabia

Nate Frizzell

Nathan Ota

Nettie Wakefield

Nouar

ONCH

Paul Frank

Richard Ahnert

Robert Palacios

Sas Christian

Scott Hove

Sean O'Meallie

Shantell Martin

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Simone Legno

Soey Milk

Sun-Mi

Sylvia Ji

Tarina Tarantino

Travis Lampe

Victor Castillo

Xue Wang

Yoko d'Holbachie

Yokoteen

Yumiko Kayukawa

Zoé Byland

 As part of a larger partnership aiming to inspire and support youth on their creative journey, Mattel Creations is inviting four students from Inner-City Arts to showcase their work in the show (names featured in lineup above). Since 1989, Inner-City Arts has been empowering Los Angeles children, teens, and the community through the transformational power of the arts.

Mattel’s Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer, Lisa McKnight, shares: "Since its founding by Ruth and Elliott Handler, Mattel has been a creations company, powered by artists, designers, and trailblazers. As we celebrate our 80th anniversary, it's only natural we would collaborate with artists to reimagine our iconic brands, where our toys become a canvas for their art. This partnership between Mattel Creations and Corey Helford Gallery is an exciting invitation for the world to join us in celebrating the unique intersection between art, toys, and imagination." 

Open to the public (all ages) and free of charge, Toys As Art, Art Inspired By Toys: Mattel's 80th Anniversary Group Exhibition is set to debut on Saturday, March 15th from 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm, alongside a solo show, titled Or You Could Panic, by British contemporary figurative artist Ben Ashton in Gallery 2. The exhibitions will be on view at CHG through April 19th.

About Mattel:

Mattel is a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. It engages consumers and fans through its franchise brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends™, UNO®, Masters of the Universe®, Matchbox®, Monster High®, MEGA®, and Polly Pocket®, as well as other popular properties it owns or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Mattel’s offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Its products are sold in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. For more information, visit Mattel.com.  

About Inner-City Arts:

Founded in 1989, Inner-City Arts is a creative oasis in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Professional teaching artists provide a safe and supportive environment where youth engage in a variety of visual, media, and performing arts in a studio setting. Inner-City Arts provides core classes during the instructional day for K-8 students, after-school workshops for teens, college and career prep for high schoolers, and professional development for educators ‒ fostering the crucial skills of collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking for a strengthened community. Their mission is to engage young people in the creative process in order to shape a society of creative, confident, and collaborative individuals. Inner-City Arts envisions a society that honors the human capacity for creativity and values its cultivation in the education of young people. For more information, visit Inner-CityArts.org

About Corey Helford Gallery:

Established in 2006 by Jan Corey Helford and her husband, television producer/creator Bruce Helford (The Conners, Lopez vs. Lopez, Anger Management, The Drew Carey Show, and George Lopez), Corey Helford Gallery (CHG) has since evolved into one of the premier galleries of New Contemporary art. Its goal as an institution is to support the growth of artists, from the young and emerging to the well-known and internationally established. CHG represents a diverse collection of international artists, primarily influenced by today's pop culture and collectively encompassing style genres such as New Figurative Art, Pop Surrealism, Neo Pop, Graffiti, and Street Art. Located in downtown Los Angeles (571 S. Anderson St. Los Angeles, CA 90033) in a robust 12,000-square-foot building, CHG presents new exhibitions approximately every six weeks. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm. For more information, visit CoreyHelfordGallery.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Threads,Bluesky, and YouTube. For available prints from CHG, visit CHGPrints.com.