OVER 100 Pop-Culture Creators + Indie Artists + Original DESIGNS + Emerging BRANDS + Live DJ'ing + Puppet Slam + Food + Drinks + MORE!
PHILADELPHIA:
WHERE LOVE MEETS INDEPENDENCE
WE THE POP-ARTISTS!
*Assembly Required has partnered with POP Solutions to presents Philadelphia's first and only Designer Toy Art Festival!
Experience an amazing event that celebrates toy culture. Discover independent artists, brands, and leading creators behind this global movement. It will be a Declaration of Independent Creators!
Just like Philly, love for toys bring people of all walks together!
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Exhibition and Event with over 100 artists, vendors, brands, and more!
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All-ages experience with amazing toy art, live DJ'ing, delicious food & drinks - complete with collectible cans!
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Shop innovative art toys, “bootlegs”, and eclectic brands driving the modern movement that is the designer toy culture!
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Meet leading creative voices behind iconic, original, and independent brands from greater Philadelphia and across the country!
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Adjacent events with food, music, entertainment, and a puppet slam
for grown-ups!
OUR SPONSORS
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INDIE ARTISTS UNITE
ART EXHIBITION
FIRST FRIDAY
AUGUST 1st-8th
FREE TO PUBLIC
"Philly of the Phuture"
Festivities begin with First Friday at The Space Lab and online to experience curated by Jae Martin and Kage+Cave.
Special artist spotlight events will be held in the evenings leading up to the main event - including an online preview at the “Toys (A) Live" Show
Gallery:
The Space Lab
617 S. 2nd St.
Online:
THE KICK-OFF
AUGUST 8th
6PM-10PM
FREE TO ARTISTS
Artist Meet & Greet
Join us for the official kick-off party hosted by the Space Lab - A gallery dedicated to toy culture and creativity.
Meet up-and-coming artists and toy culture leaders from the scene.
Location:
The Space Lab
617 S. 2nd St.
DAY 1
MAIN EVENT
AUGUST 9th
TICKETED
BREAKFAST - 8AM-9:30AM
MAIN EVENT 11AM-5PM
*Assembly Required
At 8AM, indie brands looking to level-up get insights at the Brand Builder Breakfast.
Location:
TBD
At 11AM, the main event begins with vendors, exhibits, cosplay, artists booths, food, drinks, and more!
Location:
23rd Street Armory
22 S 23rd St.
At 5PM, the show floor closes, and the night begins at José Pistola's with an amazing show special offer!
Location:
José Pistola's
263 S 15th St.
SATURDAY NIGHT
AUGUST
8PM-10PM
TICKETED
The Wham Bam Puppet Slam
Nothing can prepare you for this unbelievable grown-up entertainment experience with live performances from the regional puppet art scene.
Leave the kiddos at home!
Tickets at the door.
Location:
The Deep End Studios
1313 S 33rd St.
DAY 2
MAIN EVENT
AUGUST 10th
11AM-4PM
TICKETED
*Assembly Required
We are back at the Armory for the final day of celebrating toy culture with art, food music and more!
Bring the entire family and support art and toy culture.
Location:
23rd Street Armory
22 S 23rd St.
VENDORS
ARTISTS + BRANDS + SPECIAL GUESTS
ABOUT *ASSEMBLY REQUIRED
Founder, Matthew J. Casale
In 2019, the *Assembly Required designer art toy expo was born in Asheville, NC, as the first of its kind.
Its mission: A celebration of the designer toy art movement, and to help independent artists share their works with the world.
Since then, *Assembly Required has doubled in size with opportunities to expand.
With sites now firmly set on Philadelphia, *Assembly Required founders find themselves coming full circle, returning to the city where they spent their formative years.
*Assembly Required organizers join forces with Philadelphia native creative agency, POP Solutions, and designer toy pioneers, GoHero, to bring the independence spirit of art toy culture to the birthplace of independence.
WHAT ARE ART TOYS?
In the early 2000s, a handful of independent artists who were inspired by their love for toys setout to make their own. No committees, just love, passion, and pure imagination. Toys became a canvas for artistic expression.
These pioneers would go on to create successful toy brands, art platforms, collaborations with fortune 500s, drive fashion, and a revolution for collectibles, toys, and the art world.
The global designer toy market is expected to represents $62B by 2030 and has massive cultural crossover with fashion, art, sports, music and entertainment! Unique collaborations from artists and brands like Bearbricks, KAWS, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Chanel, and Disney have produced some of the most groundbreaking designer toys ever.
The Designer Toy Art Festival brings together indie artists and designer toy brands together for an amazing festival experience! This is Philadelphia's opportunity to enter this amazing world of toy art!
"art is not a luxury.
Art drives BUSINESS."
steve Forde
POP/GoHero/LBO/Marusan USA
PARTICIPATING ARTIST GALLERY
CONTACT + SIGN-UP
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