The Dunce Baby

Toy2R is celebrating their 15th anniversary of the Qee figure. This show will feature customized 7 inch and 3.5 inch Baby Qee figures from 20 artists. This is a traveling show. 25% of the sale proceeds from these custom Baby Qee figures will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House. Rivet is a designer toy shop and micro art gallery in Columbus, Ohio. Serving the local and online community since 2007. We specialize in blind box toys and other unique finds. Our art focus is modern pop surrealism and illustration. Qee Bear is a designer toy created by Toy2R, a Hong Kong-based company founded by Raymond Choy. It is part of the Qee (pronounced “key”) series, a line of customizable, anthropomorphic figures that became a major influence in the global designer toy movement. Qee Bears have a rounded head, stubby limbs, and a signature “Q” shaped keychain attachment, allowing them to be used as collectibles or keychains. Like BE@RBRICK, Qee Bears come in DIY (Do-It-Yourself) blank versions, allowing artists and collectors to customize their own designs. Available in multiple sizes, typically 2.5-inch mini Qees, 8-inch medium Qees, and larger collector editions. Toy2R has worked with international designers, brands, and pop culture franchises, including collaborations with Tokidoki, Michael Lau, Adidas, and even Star Wars. Qee Bears were one of the earliest urban vinyl collectibles to gain international recognition in the early 2000s, helping establish the designer toy movement alongside figures like Dunny (Kidrobot) and BE@RBRICK (Medicom Toy). Though they’ve been somewhat overshadowed by newer toy trends, Qee remains an iconic piece of designer toy history. Joe Scarano was born in Warwick, NY in 1975. He was raised alongside a litter of sisters in Miami, FL and later in Bethpage, NY. During the day Joe works as an online art director for a non-profit consumer advocacy group. He spends his nights painting characters and environments that recall the odd early days of animation and the dingy despair of the 1930's. With their popsicle stick bucktoothed grins, hollow heads and dead eyes his characters often straddle the lines between funny, tragic, grotesque, and sad. He currently lives in Orange County, NY with his wife Marci, son Mason, and several furry creatures.