virgil abloh-designed action figures released by mattel creations

virgil abloh-designed action figures released by mattel creations

virgil abloh’s masters of the universe

 

With a newly unveiled collection of action figures including He-Man and Skeletor, Virgil Abloh‘s impressive body of work reveals more to be discovered, even after his passing in November 2021. The collaboration with Mattel Creations began early in 2021, and comprises a series of figures from the Masters of the Universe media franchise — which was popular largely throughout the 1980s — this time rendered in monochromatic neutrals.

 

While the iconic designer had passed before the project’s completion, it was taken over by his company Virgil Abloh Securities and his design studio Alaska Alaska, a research-based creative agency based in London.

virgil abloh action figuresimages courtesy Mattel Creations

 

 

re-contextualizing the iconic action figures

 

Through the collaboration with Mattel Creations, the Masters of the Universe became Virgil Abloh‘s canvas, resulting in an elevated series of action figures as art. The new Masters of the Universe c/o Virgil Abloh™ “TOY” figures was released by the company, which is known to work with artists to curate collections of more exclusive toys. The collection includes four collector figures — He-Man, Skeletor, Battle Cat, and Skele-god. Together, the set showcases neutral color palette.

 

The project seeks to ‘re-contextualize the figures’ through ‘text-based interventions’ along the individual packaging. What Virgil referred to as ‘loaded messages’ are inscribed across the transparent cases in the designer’s recognizable capital letters and quotation marks, and call for the reader to ‘look at these iconic toys in a new light.’ These include the words ‘woman’ for He-man, ‘her’ for Skeletor, ‘war’ for Battle Cat, and ‘she’ for Skele-God.

virgil abloh action figuresHe-Man, ‘woman,’ by Virgil Abloh and Mattel Creations

virgil abloh action figures
Skeletor, ‘her,’ by Virgil Abloh and Mattel Creations virgil abloh action figures
Skelegod, ‘she,’ by Virgil Abloh and Mattel Creations virgil abloh action figuresBattle Cat, ‘war,’ by Virgil Abloh and Mattel Creations

virgil-abloh-mattel-creations-masters-universe-designboom-06a

a comic book and art print by Reggieknow is included together with each action figure

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