About artist: Myrto Petrou

In the earlier days of my character creation, the entities where more whacky and exaggerated, inspired by the characters of my childhood, but later evolved into more grotesque and monstrous forms when I discovered the lowbrow art movement. Today these influences are not as evident as I have chosen more simple forms that create more opportunity for characters which can be produced in 3D and leave room for customisation.

Have you ever collaborated with other artists? How did it go?

I have done various collaborations through the years, primarily in the field of illustration. Although some of the results turned out to be very interesting, not much came from these endeavours outside of the challenge and fun I had. My latest and most interesting collaboration so far was with Zak Minimonster. He customized 8 of my blank Horned Ones art toys in his style. The outcome was very special, with each toy being unique and having its own edge.

What do you like about designer toys?

I love that we share physical space with them and that they exist in our world. I like the individuality of each character and their whacky, other worldly forms. They bring some magic into our sometimes mundane reality.

Do you collect designer toys? What do you pay attention to when collecting?

I have been collecting toys for many years. My collection consists of many different types of designer toys from an array of artists. I like unique characters with a preference towards brightly coloured and more cartoony forms. I also like characters with a Far Eastern influence as I have a fascination with the culture.

I don’t pay attention to anything specific when collecting, however I do follow specific artists quite closely to catch new releases, because of how much I like the characters they create.

What is your opinion on digital collecting?

I think digital collecting is a fun way to get involved in the designer toy scene as it’s instant and enables people to experience it from anywhere. Trading and organising is also a lot easier and doesn’t require large amounts of physical space, which is an issue I’m experiencing with my ever-growing toy collection. I have not yet explored the digital toy world extensively, but as I get more involved in creating digital art toys, I will in the future.

Personally, I really enjoy spending time in my little art gallery with my physical toy collection as is brings me inspiration and fills me with happiness.

What is the difference between a designer toy and a classical sculpture?

Classical sculptures are one of a kind and are made of materials such as metal, clay, wood and stone. I associate these more with fine art rather than design. Meanwhile designer toys are normally produced in batches (from just a few to hundreds or even thousands). They are accessible to larger audiences because of their price point and are normally made of materials such as plastics and resin.

I think it’s important that designer toys be for a larger audience to enable more people to get involved. The more collectors and artists are in the field, the more interesting the outcomes and the community surrounding it becomes.

Why is it called a toy if it's not meant to be played with? Are you satisfied with that name?

I quite like the name as it is approachable. However, it becomes difficult to explain the concept in simple terms to others outside of the community. The assumption is always that I create and collect children’s toys.

I am not fully satisfied with the name but at the same time I cannot think of a name that fits perfectly. Perhaps one doesn’t exist. I believe that the term ‘Art Toy’ is the closest currently that we have, as it is not rigid. ‘Art’ denotes creativity, expression and imagination in a visual form, encompassing a vast number of mediums and platforms. As a result, using the name ‘Art Toy’ is not limiting and gives room for progression, encouraging the medium to constantly grow and evolve.

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