Occie Green

Dead Beat City is the creative alias of Barnaby Purdy, a UK-based artist renowned for his distinctive resin-cast art toys, particularly his signature Kuma Bear figures. Purdy’s meticulous craftsmanship and innovative designs have garnered him a dedicated following among art toy enthusiasts worldwide.  In September 2021, Purdy held his inaugural solo exhibition at the Clutter Gallery in New York, showcasing a diverse array of Kuma Bear iterations, including double-casts, hyper bears, zombies, and the “Off Bear” series. This exhibition also introduced “Malvin,” a new figure developed in collaboration with fellow artist Muffinman. Self-produced art toys are designer collectibles created and manufactured independently by the artist or small teams without the backing of a large toy company or mass-market brand. These toys are often highly personal, artistic expressions and are usually made in limited runs. Key Characteristics include independent creation where the artist is in control of the entire process from concept, sculpting, and painting to production and packaging. These are usually made in small batches, often 10–100 pieces, which adds to their rarity, made using materials like resin, sofubi (Japanese soft vinyl), or 3D-printed components.