Beyond Ultraman: Seven Artisis Explore the Vinyl Frontier

A historic generator of American counterculture, California has become the landing site for Asian vinyl toy culture as well. Beyond Ultraman examines the vinyl art toy landscape as seen through the work of seven California artists who reflect that movement, turning art into toys and vice versa. Through originality, wit, flippancy and brilliance, each artist represented here has elevated the vinyl art toy movement and captured the attention of two audiences: the mainstream art community and the toy community. This full-color illustrated catalog documents a first-of-its-kind exhibition presented jointly by the Pasadena Museum of California Art and the Los Angeles Toy, Doll and Amusements Museum. Specific works by Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, David Gonzales, David Horvath, Sun-Min Kim, Brian McCarty and Mark Nagata are illustrated and described within both current and historical contexts. The vinyl art toy movement is fueled by a generation of enthusiastic young collectors for whom this book is essential.