Jason Freeny (born 1970) is an American artist specializing in sculpture, designer toys and computer-generated imagery. He is the owner of the Moist Production studio, which acts as the primary publisher and distributor of his works. He is best known for his anatomical art, where he produces cutaway drawings and sculptures of (typically toy) inanimate objects such as a Lego man, Barbie doll, the animated fish Nemo or a balloon art dog.[1]
Jason Freeny | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 28, 1970 |
| Education | Pratt Institute |
| Known for | Sculptor |
| Movement | Pop Surrealism |
Early life
editJason Freeny was born in 1970 in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States. Freeny studied Industrial Design at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York.[2] He attended Middletown High School in Middletown, Maryland.[citation needed] Jason currently resides in Long Beach, New York
Career
editFreeny worked for MTV as a freelance production and properties designer where he created the custom trophies used in the Rock'n'Jock series[3] and TRL Awards televised events. Freeny also spent time at ESPN designing for the mobile division and was a freelance illustrator creating editorial and literary illustrations for Penthouse (magazine).[4]
Freeny's sculptural and illustration work has been the basis for multiple mass-produced toys. He has collaborated with Hong Kong–based Toy2R (working on the Qee figurines), Hong Kong–based Fame Master toys producing Gummy bear anatomical toys,[5] United States–based Jailbreak Collective producing the "CAPSL" collectable series[6] and United States–based Marbles the Brain Store creating Freeny's Brain Cube puzzle.[7] He has also worked extensively with Singapore-based Mighty Jaxx to produce hundreds of unique toys, establishing the anatomy character design and was the driving force behind Mightyjaxx early success, including a series of Sanrio and Minions toy collectibles.[8][9]
Awards
editFreeny has received several Designer Toy Awards throughout his career, including Break Through Artist (2011), Fan Favorite (2013), Custom of the Year (2014), Best Collaboration with artist Luke Chueh (2014), Artist of the Year – Fan Choice (2014), and Best Vinyl & Plastic (2016).[10][11][12][13]
Freeny was the Designer, Art Director and Typographer for the poster series entitled Anatomy, which was awarded the Grand Prix (Outdoor) and Gold Medal (Print Work) at the 2067 Dubai Lynx International Advertising Festival.[14]
Private collections
edit- Nike CEO/President Mark Parker
- Television Host Conan O'Brien[15]
- Los Angeles collector Long Gone John
- Comedian Hamish Blake
Exhibitions
edit"Happy Pills" 2023 Copro Gallery, Los Angeles, California[16]
"Outside In" Hong Kong 2020[17][18]
"X-Soul Station" Shanghai 2019[19][20]
"Jason Freeny Asia" Taipei 2019[21][22]
Plastic Surgeon, Megumi Ogita Gallery, Tokyo, September 15 – October 5, 2017
"From East to East" London 2016[23]
MOLT, La Luz de Jesus, Los Angeles, California. February 2015[24]
PIQ, Piq, Las Vegas, Nevada. November 2013[25]
101/exhibit, Los Angeles, California. March 2013[26]
Personal life
editJason lives in New York with his fiancée, Kendra.
References
edit- ^ "History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places | Smithsonian". Smithsonianmag.com. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
- ^ "About Bio Menu". Moist Production. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
- ^ Style Skin: Change skin. "MTV Rock-n-Jock SB Trophy by freeny on deviantART". Freeny.deviantart.com. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
- ^ Style Skin: Change skin. "Do It Diet by freeny on deviantART". Freeny.deviantart.com. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
- ^ "Gummi Bear Anatomy Toys by Jason Freeny". Laughingsquid.com. 2012-08-09. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
- ^ "Come check out our new store!". Jailbreaktoys.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-19. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
- ^ "The Brain Cube - Marbles: The Brain Store". Marblesthebrainstore.com. 2014-05-19. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
- ^ Teo, Edwin (2022-12-27). "The Minions Go On Vacation In Freeny's Hidden Dissectibles From Mighty Jaxx". Geek Culture. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
- ^ Rachael (2023-02-23). "Mighty Jaxx launches new Kandy x Sanrio series". Toy World Magazine | The business magazine with a passion for toys. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
- ^ "2011 Winners". Designer Toy Awards. Archived from the original on 2016-10-06. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
- ^ "2013 Winners". Designer Toy Awards. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
- ^ "2014 Winners". Designer Toy Awards. Archived from the original on 2016-11-10. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
- ^ "2016 Winners". Designer Toy Awards. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
- ^ "ANATOMY - FP7 | Winners & Shortlists | Dubai Lynx - International Festival of Creativity". Dubai Lynx. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
- ^ "A Birthday Gift From Andy Richter @". Teamcoco.com. 2013-09-20. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
- ^ https://www.copronason.com/exhibitionsOld.html
- ^ https://hypebeast.com/2020/11/jason-freeny-outside-in-art-toy-experience-store-k11-hong-kong
- ^ https://www.trip.com/things-to-do/detail/32703527/
- ^ https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/society/article/3023161/chinese-toy-story-why-do-adult-men-buy-designer-toys
- ^ https://www.shine.cn/feature/entertainment/1907128318/
- ^ https://www.huashan1914.com/w/huashan1914/exhibition_19051317022724755
- ^ https://kidultkingdom.com/jason-freeny-asia/#gsc.tab=0
- ^ https://www.thetoychronicle.com/shows/jason-freeny-is-coming-to-london-in-september-kinda/
- ^ "Jason Freeny". LaLuzDeJesus. Retrieved 2015-02-01.
- ^ "On View: Jason Freeny's Sculptures at PIQ | Hi-Fructose Magazine". Hifructose.com. 2013-11-12. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
- ^ "Jason Freeny". 101 Exhibit. Retrieved 2014-05-31.