Hong Kong’s designer toy movement, which emerged in the late 1990s, has gained international acclaim for ultimately changing how toys can be seen today. From casual plaything to a sought-after product of creativity, this blend of “art” and “toy” has permanently impacted the collectible landscape.
While household names like Eric So, Winson Ma, and the “Godfather of Designer Toys” himself, Michael Lau, helped pave the way, the scene has since blossomed into a vibrant and eclectic landscape thanks to its new blood. Alternative approaches to design and myriad sources of fresh inspiration have allowed new artists to evolve the scene into an incredibly diverse industry.
Although this can be seen through the works of artists from around the world, Asia is undoubtedly a tour de force for offering the next generation’s best. From the Sofubi clicks in Japan to the beyond-bizarre minds of Taiwanese artists, if you’re looking to expand your collection or are just starting out, Asia is where to look.
As such, RADII is paying homage to the movement’s birthplace by highlighting some of Hong Kong’s best new indie toy artists. There are plenty more names to discover, but hopefully, the list below serves as a helpful introduction.
LeeeeeeToy
“Surrealism” is perhaps the best way to describe the design style behind LeeeeeeToy. Real name Lee Kin Man, LeeeeeeToy is known throughout the Hong Kong art toy scene for his unabashed collectibles that grab pop-culture elements and push their boundaries into bright and bold new worlds.
His diverse body of work includes unique concepts ranging from the silly and cute to the absolutely random, and everything in between. And while the toys appear playful on the surface, the designs can be interpreted as a subtle commentary on the state of society. Bringing such a distinct flavor to the designer toy movement, LeeeeeeToy has had his work featured at exhibitions around the world, has been invited to major festivals, and can be found at most art toy stores, especially throughout Asia.
Follow LeeeeeeToy on Instagram here.
Yeung Tsz Kin
Artist Ed Roth’s hot rod mascot, Rat Fink, and Osamu Tezuka’s Shōnen superstar, Astro Boy, are pretty recognizable figures within pop culture. Art toy artist Yeung Tszkin’s versions, however, are not quite as recognizable. He’s best known for his unique twists on designer toys, and plays an integral part in the scene through his commitment to the art toy collective, Nice Geeks, a platform made up of local artists that fosters support and community.
Alongside other Nice Geek members, Tszkin actively participates in exhibitions, seeking to make designer toys more accessible and appreciated beyond traditional views, all the while working his day job within logistics. On top of that, he also co-founded the art toy brand Hide Toy with fellow artists Wong Chun Ho, both of which draw inspiration in their designs from their childhood memories, street culture, and classic Japanese anime.
Follow Yeung Tsz Kin on Instagram here.
Genkosha
“Intricate” and “cute” are two words that clearly describe the design approach behind Genkosha’s art toy sculptures. While most indie Sofubi artists go for simpler renditions of kawaii figurines, Genkosha’s knack for details offers their sculptures a much more sophisticated aesthetic. These are the types of pieces you want to pay a bit more attention to when appreciating their art form.
Pulling inspiration from mythical creatures, Genkosha has an obvious favorite; their Instagram account says it all with “Fantasy Fox Den” marked under its name. While we see adorable yet menacing sea dragons and candy-colored forest friends among the line, it’s the myriad iterations of fantasy foxes that dominate Genkosha’s body of work.
Follow Genkosha on Instagram here.
Graphic Airlines
Graphic Airlines is made up of Hong Kong artists Tat and Vi. Banding together to produce art toys under a single moniker back in 2002, the duo collectively pull inspiration from various art practices such as graphic design, street art, painting, installation art, and animation. While varied in their approach, Tat and Vi have created a signature aesthetic for Graphic Airlines that’s as endearing as it is disturbing.
From a seven-headed, chubby-cheeked mutated version of Spiderman, dubbed “Heavyman,” to a mutated girl with two lizard heads under a Skeletor treatment, you won’t find anything out of the ordinary here. What we love about Tat and Vi is how they imbue a deep backstory to their characters. Each version gets its own narrative, and we’re all about it.
Follow Graphic Airlines on Instagram here.
Overloaddance Studio
As with many designer toy monikers from Hong Kong, the team behind Overloaddance Studio have kept themselves fairly elusive. What we do know is that they offer a vibrant mix of art toys and comics, with the former featuring a roster of “household” characters, namely Hell Cat, Drunkboy, 虫王 (“King of Bug”), and “Falling Something.”
While the studio focuses primarily on the above, they’re also known for taking things a step further for their toy releases, often pairing their vinyls with apparel — but not for you. They’re for the toys. This approach brings back the more traditional “doll” style plaything where you would dress your doll up in customizable clothing. Overloaddance Studio’s “dolls,” however, are far from traditional. Their designs take on a more contemporary approach that are both whimsical and fashionable.
Follow Overloaddance Studio on Instagram here.
Luke Smells Good
If you’re already familiar with Hong Kong’s art toy scene and you see a phallic-shaped humanoid with a mustache, you’ll know it’s a Luke Smells Good piece. The self-proclaimed “bootleg toy maker” draws inspiration from a blend of humor, sexuality, and pop culture, which often features unconventional designs that challenge norms.
Having started his “bootleg” toy career back in 2017, Luke Smells Good has been pushing the boundaries within the toy industry through adult themes and comedy-forward ideas. He also draws inspiration from various aspects of pop culture, including anime and kaiju, while integrating clever puns and humorous twists that make his toys not only visually appealing but also engaging on a conceptual level.
Follow Luke Smells Good on Instagram here.
Club Babo
Much like a few of the other artists on this list, designer toy artist, Club Babo has an obvious inspiration go-to for his designs: the cat. His signature character, Flat Cat, is his most prominent sculpture, which is also represented in an illustrated series. Similarly, the art toy version gets several treatments, from different color schemes to condiments and soda pop iterations.
Flat Cat isn’t alone, however. Club Babo’s simplistic and playful designs also feature other just-as-cute personalities, from the many “friends” of Flat Cat to the constantly surprised demon, Grrr, to the wavy-eared, Power Bunny, and more. In addition to soft vinyls, Club Babo has also produced a slew of other products like plushies, totes, rugs, keychains and more.
Follow Club Babo on Instagram here.
Don’t Cry In The Morning
From more cats to gummy bears, kaiju goblins, and even a citrus guy… thing, artist duo Don’t Cry In The Morning adds even more whimsy to Hong Kong’s designer toy landscape. Founded back in 2013 by ASA and Poppy, the two have been having fun sculpting some seriously zany and colorful creations.
As their toys suggest, the duo’s mantra is all about not stressing out, as stated in their brand name. According to the two, their moniker means, “Let’s start a fresh new day every morning and leave the worries behind,” an ethos that they want to share through their art and toys.
Follow Don’t Cry In The Morning on Instagram here.
Hexactus
Having reached this far down the list of indie art toy artists from Hong Kong, it’s pretty apparent that the local scene here is ripe with colorful creations. Artist and illustrator, Hexactus, however, takes things up a notch.
While being the only name on this list that doesn’t produce many of the sculptures themselves — he currently only has one to his name — Hexactus is a pillar within the local scene for lending his psychedelic paintwork to the blank builds of many local and international art toy sculptors. His tripped-out paintwork sets him apart, and although there’s not much information available on the artist himself, the obvious talent and aesthetic sensibility of Hexactus speaks for itself.
Follow Hexactus on Instagram here.
Addicted to Happiness
After exploring many of Hong Kong’s best indie designer toy artists, we’ve discovered how community-driven the scene is here. While still niche to the mainstream audience, there’s a strong sense of camaraderie and support found among local artists. Addicted to Happiness — ATH for short — is a name that constantly pops up when exploring others, and their multifaceted collection of work explains exactly why.
The creative mind behind the moniker is Ken Wong, whose vibrant mix of self-sculptured creations, collaborative efforts, and participation at community-driven platforms all add to his foothold within the local art toy scene. The ATH name itself reflects Wong’s philosophy of spreading joy and positivity through designer toys, which deeply resonates with fellow artists and art toy collectors alike. For those of us who are enthusiastic about the designer toy landscape, perhaps we’re all just a little addicted to happiness.
Follow Addicted To Happiness on Instagram here.
Banner image: LeeeeeeToy’s iconic “EARTHLY” vinyl. Image via Instagram/@leeeeeetoy.
