STRANGEco is pleased to announce a new multi-artist designer toy series based on the annual gallery exhibition curated by artist Luke Chueh and hosted by Los Angeles-based Gallery 1988.

Started in 2003, The Vivisect Playset is an annual group art show curated by artist Luke Chueh, which thematically focuses on (drawings of) the dissection and reconstruction of animals to demonstrate human emotion. To celebrate this wildly successful show, STRANGEco has enlisted the participation of regular Vivisect artists Anthony Ausgang, Luke Chueh, Peter Gronquist, Thomas Han, Joe Ledbetter, Greg Simkins, and Amanda Visell, to create a very special collectible toy series. This 8-piece collection will debut at Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles on January 26th, 2008 and includes one original design per artist plus a collaborative piece by Simkins and Ledbetter.

The Vivisect Playset is one of Gallery 1988's longest- running group shows, breathing new life into the young start-up gallery and helping skyrocket it into the spotlight of the art world. Following the success of the Vivisect Playset series, Gallery 1988 partners Katie Cromwell and Jensen Karp went on to open another Gallery 1988 in San Francisco in 2006, where the fourth Vivisect Playset show took place in December 2007.

Cromwell credits artist Luke Chueh with helping to make 1988 a relevant gallery. "Jensen and I opened the LA Gallery almost 4 years ago." "We were kids with absolutely no business experience. It's a miracle that we're still in business- and that miracle is a man named Luke Chueh."

Luke Chueh and the other Vivisect Playset artists have caught the attention of some high profile fans and art aficionados of all walks of life. With the Vivisect Playset's anthropomorphous art in such high demand, STRANGEco has made it possible for even more art connoisseurs to take home a "piece" of their story. "As our second multi-artist toy series, we couldn't be happier collaborating with such a gifted group of artists and on such a continuously engaging gallery show", commented Jim Crawford, co-founder of STRANGEco. "The Vivisect Playset toy series is the kind of project that got me started making toys in the first place."

The 8 piece, 3-4" PVC figure series will sell individually in blind box packaging and will be available at Gallery 1988 and other fine retailers.

Suggested Retail Price - $7.99

For more information please visit: http:// www.STRANGEco.com

For more information on Gallery 1988 please visit: http:// www.nineteeneightyeight.com/

You can see more work by the artists at their individual websites:
Luke Chueh - http://www.lukechueh.com/
Anthony Ausgang - http://www.ausgangart.com/
Peter Gronquist - http:// www.petergronquist.com/
Thomas Han - http://www.thomas- han.deviantart.com/
Joe Ledbetter - http://www.joeledbetter.com/
Greg Simkins - http://www.imscared.com/
Amanda Visell - http:// www.thegirlsproductions.com/

About STRANGEco:
The foremost purveyor of artist-based toys, design objects and curiosities, STRANGEco continuously creates and produces innovative designs, and has deservedly gained recognition as the leader of the art toy revolution from both artists and customers alike. Working closely with artists they admire, STRANGEco develops character designs, often only seen in two dimensions. The end results are beautiful original art pieces in three-glorious dimensions which fans can actually afford and collect. Notable artists STRANGEco has worked with include tokidoki, Gary Baseman, Jim Woodring, FriendsWithYou, Mars-1, Nathan Jurevicius Pete Fowler, James Jarvis and many others.

About GALLERY 1988:
Gallery 1988 opened its Los Angeles location on the corner of Melrose and La Brea in 2004 and quickly became the place to see artists on the rise. The gallery has been covered in Maxim, FHM, Juxtapoz, The Washington Post, the LA Times and Nintendo Power, while CNN, Fox, Spike TV and G4 have also all reported on specific shows, such as last year's Crazy 4 Cult, where over 2000 patrons visited on opening night, along with host Kevin Smith, to see 100 artists reinterpret images from classic cult films. Gallery 1988 has also worked hand in hand with The Disney Company, Capcom and Mattel to create art shows and build their brand through art-inspired marketing. In 2007, Gallery 1988 opened its second gallery in San Francisco and has brought its arsenal of artists and original themed shows to a whole new city and fan base.