Yellow BG Bear

Kohei Ogawa is a Japanese artist renowned for his whimsical and endearing creations that span illustrations, needle-felted dolls, paintings, and sculptures. After graduating from Asagaya College of Art in 1997, Ogawa embarked on a career as a freelance illustrator, producing work for advertising agencies, publishers, and television programs.   In 2013, Ogawa introduced the “Green Cow Garden” series, a collection of handmade needle-felted dolls featuring anthropomorphized animals and fantastical creatures. This series garnered significant attention and became a hallmark of his artistic identity.  Expanding his artistic repertoire, Ogawa collaborated with Hong Kong-based art toy producer How2Work starting in 2017. Together, they developed various figure projects, including the “Naughty Boy” series, the “BG Bear” series, and a blind-boxed mini-figure line based on the “Green Cow Garden” characters How2Work is a Hong Kong-based art toy company known for its high-quality designer toys, collaborations with contemporary artists, and a strong focus on storytelling through collectibles. Established in the early 2000s, the brand has been instrumental in bringing Asian and international artists’ visions to life through detailed vinyl, resin, and mixed-media figures. How2Work is especially recognized for its partnerships with well-known artists such as Kasing Lung, Eric So, and Tik Ka From East, producing figures that blend traditional and modern aesthetics, surrealism, and pop culture influences. Their toys often carry a dreamlike, whimsical, or nostalgic charm, appealing to both designer toy collectors and art enthusiasts.