In 2005, the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City commissioned me to create a special edition of my first vinyl toy, The Toy Monkey, along with a silkscreen print. This was a milestone moment -- having a major contemporary art museum commission a toy as art.

This led me to create my own toy company, Chump Toys, and to release my OH NO and OH OH vinyl figures. Each figure stands 6.5 inches high with fully articulating legs. I also had my Chump Dunny included in KidRobot's iconic Series 6 -- a rare collector's item.

The line expanded to include six handcrafted wooden toys -- Chalk Draw, Flip Floppy, Ladder Fun, Trapeze Toy, Whirly, and Peck Peck -- each hand-signed and numbered in a designer box. These were released in an exclusive partnership with Indigo Books & Music, the first time Indigo had partnered with an artist for exclusive toys.

My work in the toy space bridges fine art and pop culture, something I've been passionate about since my early influences from depression-era typography, the Fleischer Brothers, and Andy Warhol.

Shop the full toy collection at shop.garytaxali.com/toys. Vinyl figures: OH NO | OH OH.