More Contemporary Artists Interpret The Iconic Playboy Bunny in Playboy Redux II.

above: detail from Vincent Cacciotti's reinterpretation of the Playboy Bunny

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the world famous Playboy Club and the Playboy Bunny, artists reinterpreted the sexy icon in Playboy Redux II, an exhibit featuring the work of over 20 of today's contemporary artists.


above: Hugh with his Playboy Bunnies at the Chicago Playboy Club in 1960.

Known at that time for her satin bunny suit, cotton tail and rabbit ears, the Playboy Bunny served cocktails and glamour in equal doses. Many luminaries once worked as Bunnies, including Deborah Harry, Gloria Steinem and Lauren Hutton.


above: the original Playboy Bunnies

For Playboy Redux: Contemporary Artists Interpret the Iconic Playboy Bunny, artists were asked to create a new look for the Bunny, a veritable makeover to create the Bunny of the future. The selected artists presented a number of new takes on this iconic image, and works in different mediums including photography, painting, sculpture, drawing and video.



The group show, The "Playboy Redux" exhibition was originally shown at The Warhol Museum in March-June, 2010. Copro Gallery is now exhibiting many of these works along with new ones in "Playboy Redux ll". This project is part of Playboy's year-long 50th Anniversary celebration of the Playboy Club and Playboy Bunny. The exhibit is curated by Aaron Baker, Ned West and Copro Gallery.


above: Frank Kozik's reinterpretation of the Playboy Bunny

Graffiti artists, lowbrow artists, cartoonists, photographers, illustrators and sculptors participated including Frank Kozik, Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, Tara McPherson and Shag to name only a few.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Tara McPherson:

TIN:

Tim Biskup:

Shag:

Another interpretation by Shag:


Gary Baseman:

Brian Viveros:

Jennybird Alacantra:

Vincent Cacciotti:

Hiroki Otsuka:

William Wray:

Jeremy Fish:

Erik Alos:

Travis Lampe:

Dave Nestler:

Bob Doucette:

Jeremiah Ketner:

Luke Chueh:

Juan Muniz:

Mark "atmos" Pilon:


You can see some more here and still more here.

PLAYBOY, BUNNY and Rabbit Head Design are all marks of Playboy, ©2010 Playboy

Graffiti Decorated Desktop Dumpsters By Steelplant.

Designer Ryan Christensen of Steelplant has come up with a very chic urban way to store books and desk accessories or as a container for live plants and other objects.




His Steelplant Edition One are a series of artist-decorated "Desktop Dumpsters." The graffiti-painted miniature steel dumpsters are each one of a kind and look just like the real thing. Dumpsters are cut, formed, and welded up from 14 gauge (1/16") 25-35% recycled steel. When empty, they weigh nine pounds. The lid tiles are milled from a wood/plastic composite material that is made from plastic bags and sawdust that would otherwise go to a dump somewhere.




Once built they are given to an artist, or multiple artists to be painted, inked, glued, printed, distressed, whatever. Each dumpster is unique in the first edition. The art and application methods will change with each release.







In Ryan's own words:
"Steelplant was born out of a massive year-long brainstorming session I had. Back in November of 2010 while working like mad on a catalog for a client, I got a serious overuse injury that crippled me for a year. During this time It occured (sic)to me how important it was to make objects with my hands. I also realized that I needed a creative outlet that wasn't limited by factors out of my control. When I was finally well enough to use my hands again I turned my thoughts into sketches, and my sketches into Steelplant."

Shop for them here