Upper Playground has teamed up with Japan’s Good Smile Company to become the official distributor for David Choe’s “Munko” Vinyl Figures. The “Munko” line of figures comes in three unique sculpts: Munko, Munkosaur, and Munkette. Munko, is offered in 3 colors and 2 extremely realistic textures. Munkosaur comes in 3 color ways with one in a concrete texture. And Munkette comes in 3 unique color ways. The figures are available in a set of all 12 toys and individually by blind-box. Now available through UP.

Detailed images of the “Munko” toys follow after the click.

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Post tags: David Choe, good smile company, upper playground

Jeremy Fish and Upper Playground want to wish you and your loved ones a Happy Easter… in their own special way. Head over to Bangabunny.com and give it a shot.

© 2010 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: Pete Williams | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us | %%sharethis_link%%
Post tags: bangabunny.com, jeremy fish, upper playground

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Post tags: cody hudson, struggle inc, upper playground, videos, walrus tv

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© 2010 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: Pete Williams | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us | %%sharethis_link%%
Post tags: dithers, interviews, jeremy fish, upper playground, videos, walrus tv

Upper Playground, The Loyal Subjects and Sam Flores team up once again to release a new blue color of the Wyger figure. Working within Flores’ signature aesthetic, the Blue Wyger incorporates Upper Playground’s iconic Walrus imagery to commemorate Upper Playground’s 10-year anniversary. The 8″ tall figure is now available exclusively at Upper Playground’s online store in a limited edition of 250.

Another look (including a package shot) at the Upper Playground x Sam Flores Blue Wyger follows.
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© 2010 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: Pete Williams | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us | %%sharethis_link%%
Post tags: Designer Toys, sam flores, upper playground

SA Studios Global’s Film Marketing Division has teamed up with Quentin Tarantino, Upper Playground and The Weinstein Company to present, THE LOST ART OF INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS.

On February 18th, 2010 from 6p – 9p the world will get to preview and purchase the “Lost Art of Inglourious Basterds” at The Upper Playground Art Gallery in Downtown Los Angeles. All proceeds from this program will be donated to The American Red Cross to help the victims of the Haiti Earthquake.

This creative team has assembled the following select group of accomplished artists, David Choe, Sam Flores, Estevan Oriol, Grotesk, Jeremy Fish, Patrick Martinez, Alex Pardee, Dora Drimalas, Munk One, N8 Van Dyke, Rene Alamanza, Morning Breath and Skinner Davis, to create their own poster art based off their interpretation of the Oscar Nominated film, “Inglourious Basterds” artwork.

Each print will be numbered and signed by Quentin Tarantino. Only six (6) of each amount will be made.

The gallery will open will be open to the general public from 6p – 9p on Thursday February 18th, 2010 at Upper Playground Los Angeles located at 125 East 6th Street in Downtown LA. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase the limited edition prints for $300. The prints are giclée archival and are only available for purchase at Upper Playground, Los Angeles. Phone orders and web orders will not be accepted. Prints will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. The purchase of prints will be limited to one per buyer.

Take a detailed look at a selection of the prints after the jump.

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© 2010 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: David Fischer | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us | %%sharethis_link%%
Post tags: Art, inglorious basterds, Prints, quentin tarantino, upper playground

Upper Playground is releasing two New Era caps designed by artists Herbert Baglione and Jeremy Fish. Baglione’s art has gained him respect and recognition from his native Brazil to the U.S. and abroad. He is known for his strong minimalist and simplistic approach to painting. Jeremy Fish’s artwork can be found throughout his own line, superFishal, through the multiple books he has been featured in, and in the various collaborations he has done with corporations like Nike and Adidas.

Cat Moonlight, the design by Baglione, gives us a wistful look at a full moon from a black cat’s perspective. Fish’s Bunny Skull design creates a clever wall paper-type pattern covering the entire fitted with bunny skulls. The new 59FIFTY caps are available at all Upper Playground retail stores and online at the Upper Playground web store.

Detailed images of the Herbert Baglione and Jeremy Fish designed Upper Playground New Era caps follow after the jump.

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Post tags: Caps, herbert baglione, jeremy fish, new era, upper playground

Upper Playground recently announced a collaborative project with Montana Colors to create artist series Hardcore cans by four artists. The second MTN x UP Limited Edition artist can in the series features the work of graffiti legend MQ.

Angelo Lospinuso from Montana Colors says “somebody may not agree with me, but I think MQ represents the original essence of graffiti, bombing, destroying, getting up, being infamous from the East to the West. It’s not politically correct for me to say that…. but who cares? I love this idea of graffiti and I pay the maximum respect for MQ! It’s an honor to have a dedicated Limited Edition by this timeless Bomber.”

The MTN x UP MQ Limited Edition artist can is available now at Upper Playground retail stores and online on the Upper Playground web store.

© 2009 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: Pete Williams | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us | %%sharethis_link%%
Post tags: montana colors, mq, upper playground

Upper Playground teamed up with legendary West Coast artist Mister Cartoon to create a t-shirt and Montana Colors Artist Can. The first in a series of four artist cans, the Mister Cartoon MTN x UP can depicts a stylized vision of LA, complete with downtown storefronts and the Virgen de Guadalupe. In addition to the Montana collaboration, Mister Cartoon has designed his first t-shirt graphic for Upper Playground with an image that combines his classic iconography with impeccable lettering. Mister Cartoon will be in San Francisco for an in-store signing this Friday, August 28th, from 5 to 7 PM, at the San Francisco store located at 220 Fillmore Street. The items are now available at UpperPlaygroundStore.com.

Finally, be sure to watch the Mr. Cartoon interview from “The Run Up,” available for the first time to the public for free, on Walrus TV, below:

Click here to view the embedded video.

More looks at the Mister Cartoon x Upper Playground T-Shirt and Montana Colors Artist Can after the jump.

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© 2009 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: Pete Williams | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us | %%sharethis_link%%
Post tags: mister cartoon, montana, upper playground, videos

Upper Playground and Chrome chose to feature the work of Sam Flores and Jeremy Fish, both San Francisco based artists whose art speaks to the bicycle subculture. Flores and Fish have created compelling designs that are embroidered on the front flap of the Chrome Bag. Jeremy Fish’s “Fowl Mood” design features an elaborate owl “wall paper” pattern, while Sam Flores’ “Angel of Death” art features one of his signature characters riding a bicycle amongst the clouds. This project has enabled both brands to fuse contemporary art with durable design. The Upper Playground & Chrome artist series messenger bags are available in limited quantities and will be sold exclusively at select lifestyle boutiques and through Upper Playground and Chrome retail stores.

More detailed images of the Upper Playground x Chrome Artist Series Messenger Bags follow after the jump.

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© 2009 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: David Fischer | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us | %%sharethis_link%%
Post tags: chrome, jeremy fish, messenger bags, sam flores, upper playground

Upper Playground has launched a new sub-brand designed by Japanese artist, Usugrow called :SHINGANIST:.  Derived from the Japanese word “Shingan,” (meaning mind’s eye), “the line represents those people who create by seeing things in their mind’s eye, and are not bothered or influenced by things around them.”  Inspired by underground Japanese lifestyle, :SHINGANIST: will feature the art of Usugrow, as well as guest artists including Mozyskey, Toshikazu Nozaka, Bene and Jun Kaneko.

The launch of the line comes along with the release of the book of the same name as well as the re-release of Love Hate From JP. Love Hate From JP sold out and has been re-printed with a heavier-weight of paper with a slightly glossy finis for the :SHINGANIST: launch. Now available at Upper Playground.

Check out the T-Shirts from Upper Playground x Usugrow’s :SHINGANIST: after the jump.

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© 2009 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: Pete Williams | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us | %%sharethis_link%%
Post tags: shinganist, t-shirts, upper playground, usugrow

For its August release, Upper Playground is releasing two new New Era cap styles – one by Jeremy Fish and the other by FIFTY24SF. Jeremy Fish’s “superFishbones” pays homage to the Los Angeles ska band of similar name, while incorporating signature Jeremy Fish elements like skulls and bunnies. The “superFishbones” Fitted comes in navy and features front and back embroidery. FIFTY24SF’s “Great White” gives us an up close and personal view of what it would be like to get chomped on by a Great White shark. Both caps are now available in the Upper Playground online store.

More detailed images of the caps follow after the jump.

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Post tags: Caps, jeremy fish, new era, upper playground

After selling out the main colorway in just a few days, Upper Playground has unveiled an exclusive tonal purple colorway of Sam Flore’s Kid Dragon. Unlike most vinyl figures, Kid Dragon is made up of three pieces, creating the illusion of a dragon floating through clouds. The figure measures 10″ and comes packaged in a double-sided window box with scenic insert card. The purple color is more limited than the first release at only 200 pieces.

The Kid Dragon Upper Playground Exclusive Colorway is slated for a late September release, but is now available for pre-sale at Upper Playground.

© 2009 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: Pete Williams | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us | %%sharethis_link%%
Post tags: sam flores, upper playground, vinyl figures

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© 2009 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: Pete Williams | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us | %%sharethis_link%%
Post tags: interviews, upper playground, WK Interact

The July Upper Playground New Era 59FIFTY hats feature the artwork of David Choe and Upper Playground. David Choe is well known for lots of things, one of them being his notorious whales, so it’s only fitting that Mr. Choe’s cap features his signature whales embroidered all over the hat. The Upper Playground Logo Mesh Fitted blends the breathability and comfort into a hat perfect for warmer weather. Both hats are available at Upper Playground stores and on the Upper Playground Web Store.

Have a closer look at the Upper Playground July 2009 New Era Caps after the jump.

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© 2009 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: Pete Williams | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us | %%sharethis_link%%
Post tags: Caps, David Choe, new era, upper playground

San Franciso based Upper Playground present the newest in a series of vinyl figures slated for release in 2009 – Dragon Boy designed by Sam Flores.  Known for his signature characters and fusing them with Asian motifs, Flores’ Dragon Boy fuses his influences in this new vinyl figure. 

Unlike most other vinyl figures, the Dragon Boy is made up of 3 pieces creating the illusion of the dragon floating through the clouds.  The figure measures 10″ tall and the head, midsection and tail feature extremely detailed gradient blends. Limited to 500 units, Dragon Boy is slated to release in early September but is now available for pre-sale on the Upper Playground web store.

Have a closer look at the Upper Playground x Sam Flores Dragon Boy Figure after the jump.
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© 2009 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: Pete Williams | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us | %%sharethis_link%%
Post tags: sam flores, upper playground, vinyl figures

Upper Playground brings you another interview from The Run Up. This time they chatted with Swoon, somebody you do not catch too often in front of the camera. Enjoy!

© 2009 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: David Fischer | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us | %%sharethis_link%%
Post tags: Art, art basel, swoon, upper playground, videos

To celebrate it’s 10th Anniversary, Upper Playground has teamed up with several artists to create vinyl figures commemorating the event. The first in the series, Alex Pardee has created the Walrus Rider, a two-faced creature, whose legs were stolen, seeking vengeance and searching for his legs atop his walrus associate. The figure is approximately 11″ tall and has bendy arms and a removable tusk, which fits into the rider’s hand.

The Walrus Rider is available in two colors: Teal and black. The teal/magenta figure is being produced in an edition of 500 pieces. A second colorway of black/green is an Upper Playground exclusive and is being produced in an edition of 113 pieces. The Upper Playground exclusive colorway is releasing on Saturday, May 30th and Alex Pardee will be at Upper Playground’s flagship San Francisco store for a signing from 12 to 2 PM. Alex Pardee is also taking a trip down to Los Angeles to do a signing at Munky King on Saturday, June 13th.

The limited black and green UP colorway of the Walrus Rider will be available exclusively at Upper Playground retail stores and online at the Upper Playground web store. Both Walrus Riders are available for pre-sale now on the Upper Playground Web Store.

More information on the new Upper Playground x Alex Pardee Walrus Figure follows after the jump.

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© 2009 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: David Fischer | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us | %%sharethis_link%%
Post tags: alex pardee, toys, upper playground

This month, Upper Playground releases two hats in black and white. “Paint,” designed by Saber, features brush strokes in a tonal palette of black, white and grey. “Hair” features an embroidered rendering of Usugrow’s well-known hair illustration. Both hats are available at Upper Playground stores and on the Upper Playground Web Store.

Detailed images of the Saber and Usugrow designed Upper Playground New Era Caps follow after the jump.

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© 2009 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: David Fischer | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us | %%sharethis_link%%
Post tags: Caps, new era, upper playground

Japanese artist Usugrow has put together an impressive group of artists for the upcoming Shinganist book and group show, taking place at the Fifty24F Gallery in San Franicso. The line-up includes USUGROW, MOZYSKEY, TOSHIKAZU NOZAKA, BENE and JUN KANEKO.

There will not only be an exhibition, but there will also be a Shinganist Book accompanying the show and in August Upper Playground will be introducing the Shinganist Clothing Collection, featuring artwork by the participating artists. Something to look out for!

More information on the event follows after the jump.

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© 2009 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: David Fischer | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us | %%sharethis_link%%
Post tags: Art, fifty24f, upper playground, usugrow