Creative Hunter ©: Toys for adults (and not what you might think)

Dolls. Action figures. Plush toys. If you think these are only of interest to your younger siblings (or your geeky neighbours), you might want to rethink that. The kind of toys I am talking about here are not the cheap kind from the toy store and made to be tossed around, but they are rather sold in galleries, a bit pricier, and definitely intended to be displayed as works of art.

Indeed, several artists are devoting their time to creating, in limited edition, these slightly subversive, indisputably cute, often absurd, playfully witty, pocket-sized chef-d’oeuvres. These toys surely make edgy design objects, but you can still play with them if you fancy it (no worries, it’s between you and them).

Among the most prolific designers of such toys are Frank Kozik, Devilrobots, and Tokidoki, who all specialize in vinyl figurines, and whose work can be found online at Kid Robot. My Paper Crane, on the other hand, makes what she calls "handmade funky weird artwork", and creates mostly plush toys (from jelly sandwiches to carnivorous plants to toilet bowls and tissues). In the city of Montreal, Camion de Pompier carries an interesting collection from all around the world. So, it's time to leave your pride aside and rediscover the joys of toys!

Below, some personal favourites...

The Smorking Labbit, and Smorking Cupcakes, by Frank Kozik