| Huck Gee | |
| Birth Date: | 19 May 1973 |
| Birth Place: | Newcastle upon Tyne, England |
Mark Gee (born May 19, 1973, in Newcastle upon Tyne, England), better known professionally as Huck Gee, is a contemporary artist, illustrator, toy maker, and designer best known by toy enthusiasts for his iconic "Skullhead" character. Since the early 1990s he works and lives in San Francisco, California.
Influenced by the Japanese Edo period and Hong Kong pop art, Huck creates illustrations and custom figures and has released production toys through Kidrobot[1] including figures for The Standard and DJ Qbert. In 2005, Huck Gee released the "Skullhead Project", a joint venture between Kidrobot and Barneys New York in conjunction with five top fashion designers: Marc Jacobs, Jil Sander, Dries van Noten, Rick Owens, and Duckie Brown. With this project, each designer would reproduce their 2005 Spring collections, and dress them with immaculate detail on 12" figures of Huck's Skullhead character.[2]
In October 2007, Gee's second original character, "Akuma Bomb" was released.[3] In the winter of 2007, three Kidrobot toys were accepted into the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, including a "Hello My Name Is" 8" Dunny figure, designed by Gee in collaboration with Paul Budnitz and Tristan Eaton.[4] Huck has also consigned several pieces for one of the world's leading fine art auction houses at Christie's.
In the Fall of 2009 Huck participated in the 35th Anniversary celebration for Hello Kitty called Three Apples hosted by Sanrio. Three Apples was a three-week long multifaceted convention and exhibition celebrating all things Hello Kitty.
In 2010, Huck collaborated with rally racer and co-founder of DC shoes, Ken Block. A version of Huck's famous Skullhead was designed as a logo for Block's Monster World Rally Team WRC entitled "Blockhead". The logo shows Ken's number "43″ implanted on the forehead of a square stylized skull.[5] In the Spring of 2010, the creators at United Front Games asked Huck to feature in an "Artist Spotlight" for the game ModNation Racers.[6]
Huck's toys have been photographed and published in numerous books dedicated to the hobby of vinyl toy collection and appreciation. Dot Dot Dash: Designer Toys, Action Figures, and Character Art (by Robert Klanten & Matthias Hubner) in 2006. I Am Plastic (by Paul Budnitz) also in 2006. Toy Giants (by Daniel & Geo Fuchs) in 2007. Flux: Designer Toys (by Shawn Wright) in 2010. I Am Plastic Too (by Paul Budnitz) also in 2010.
In 2014 Huck participated in the "This is Not a Toy" exhibit at the Design Exchange Museum Canada in Toronto, ON. It was the first major exhibit of designer urban toys in the world and guest curated by Pharrell Williams. Huck's work can be found in the editorial companion to the exhibit, titled by the same name, "This is Not a Toy."
In June 2015, Huck revealed that he had severed ties with Kidrobot and was producing his own toy platform called "The Blank."[7] By 2017, Huck Gee Inc. ceased operations and released its final self-produced figure.[8]
On August 27, 2024, Huck Gee launched a new Kickstarter called The Worlds of Huck Gee: Skullhead, Gold Life & Beyond. This project received 100% of its funding goal in less than 20 minutes.
Collaboration with GorillazIn 2020, Gee re-engaged with the Gorillaz universe through a partnership with Superplastic, where he played a pivotal role in designing a new series of vinyl figures featuring the band members, including a 12-inch figure of the lead singer 2D. This was the first Gorillaz toy release in over a decade, marking a significant moment in the band's merchandise history. The collaboration continued with additional figures, including the "GEEP" and the "Astronaut 2D" series, each bringing a fresh artistic interpretation to the beloved virtual characters. [9]
Co-founding SuperplasticGee was instrumental in creating Superplastic