Good Morning Sunshine - Lava Edition

Influenced by classic animation, graphic design, and daily life, Joe Ledbetter's art is... well... a lot of things. Light-hearted in its approach, he often combines cute and cuddly creatures with unfortunate — albeit humorous — situations. With a lean on the subversive and absurd, these scenarios are all too familiar, questioning our tendency of taking life (and ourselves) too seriously. While working as a graphic apparel artist for three years, Ledbetter got involved in the Los Angeles underground art scene, beginning with group shows like Cannibal Flower. By the summer of 2004, he had honed his trademark visual style of emblematic line-work, vibrant colors, and endearing characters to the point of quitting his day job. With international appeal, he has had numerous solo exhibitions in Los Angeles, Tokyo, London, Paris, Rome, Toronto, Taipei, Istanbul, and Amsterdam. His incredible cast of creatures have since been emblazoned on over 100 designer vinyl toys, as well as apparel and lifestyle brands, the world over. THE LEGEND Trickster...Warrior...Revolutionary. Sick of living under the yoke of the Jade Emperor, The Monkey King staged a coup against the Kingdom of Heaven using his wits, his cunning and a very big stick. Individuality in the face of conformity is his legacy. THE TOYS In his honor we built this temple, filling it with toys that embody his rebellious and creative spirit. Cast from the hearts and minds of independent artists from around the world, these "Designer Toys" or "Art Toys" are part of an ever-growing international phenomenon. In an age where mega-conglomerates churn out mass-produced hunks of cheap plastic, these limited production-run collectibles are revolutionizing the way people think about art and toys. Munky King is a Los Angeles-based designer toy company founded in 2003 by Patrick Lam. It began as the first designer toy store in Southern California, located in Chinatown LA, and later expanded to a gallery and flagship store on Melrose Avenue. The company has been instrumental in promoting the designer toy movement through art shows, signings, releases, and special events.   Collaborating with renowned pop-surrealist artists such as Luke Chueh, Joe Ledbetter, Kozyndan, Amanda Visell, COOP, and DabsMyla, Munky King develops art toys that remain true to the original artwork. Their platform toy, the Omi, inspired by Chinese opera masks, exemplifies the fusion of traditional forms with designer toy aesthetics