Exclusive: Chris Brown teams with Ron English for toy line
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Chris Brown is teaming with prolific street artist Ron English to create a limited line of collectible toys and art sculptures.
The joint venture, which Brown announced to Pop & Hiss, will be called Dum English and will be released through noted sculpture manufacturers Garageworks Industries and vinyl toy production house Made by Monsters. The line will launch in L.A. on May 2.
A limited launch of 1,000 toys will be made for the first run and an exhibition showcasing Brown’s street art will open May 2 at the Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City. The show also will feature English’s work and some behind-the-scenes glimpses of their creative process together.
Brown and English also will paint together on a life-size Dum English astronaut sculpture in front of gallery guests.
‘Hands down right now my guy is Ron English. Ron has to be the more creative, ‘out there’ artist I see. His work is so precise but at the same time so unorthodox,” Brown wrote in a statement. “I think it’s incredible to be able to see him do what he does and be a fan.’
Earlier this year Brown took home his first Grammy, winning the R&B album trophy for “F.A.M.E.” He is currently prepping his upcoming fifth album, “Fortune,” which has been pushed back from May 8 to July 3.
Proceeds of sales from the toys will go to Brown’s Symphonic Love foundation, which aims to provide support and funding for arts programs dedicated to women and the artistic development of children.
Ahead of the exhibit at the Corey Helford Gallery, Brown and English will appear at TAG on Melrose Avenue for an in-store signing May 2 from 2-4 p.m. More information on the line can be found on Brown’s blog, Mechanical Dummy.
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