Mikey Lisa Larson - BE@RBRICK
Lisa Larson is a Swedish sculptor, ceramicist, and artist that created a number of iconic works that have piqued the interest of many individuals from around the world. Although she has created many different works that utilized many kinds of media, she is most known for her ceramic sculptures. In Japan, Mikey the Cat is a particularly popular work of Larson’s, which eventually led to the production of a BE@BRICK figure of the feline character. In fact, there are two variations of Mikey for fans to collect: the “BE@RBRICK Lisa Larson Mikey 400%” and the “BE@RBRICK Lisa Larson Mikey: Blue Ver. 400%”.
Lisa Larson x BE@RBRICK Collaboration Background
The collaborative effort between Lisa Larson and BE@RBRICK began in March 2014 with the release of two BE@RBRICK versions of Larson’s characters: Lion and Mikey. After several years passed, other characters and variations were released as well. As of early 2021, there are four unique characters with figures that come in several different sizes.
Collaboration Planning and Launch
The first two BE@RBRICK produced through this collaboration were the 100% versions of the original red Mikey and Lion, another character created by Larson that had gained a significant following. These two figures were originally released in March 2014 as an exclusive product for Medicom Toy’s online store, Sync. That said, future releases in the following months were made more widely available and offered several sizes. In July 2016, Mia, another Larson cat character, would also receive a BE@RBRICK counterpart. Further releases through this collaboration include a blue version of Mikey the Cat and a “Flocked” version of the original red Mikey.
BE@RBRICK Lisa Larson Mikey 400%
This figure takes the design of the original Mikey the Cat character and turns it into an adorable BE@RBRICK figure. Many aspects of Larson’s unique style are also reflected in this recreation as well, like the use of prehistoric features and simple, yet vibrant colors. Much of Mikey’s face is simply painted black, creating a stark contrast from its white and red striped body.
The round ears and rotund belly found in all BE@RBRICK figures are also present in this unique recreation of Mikey, giving it the classic BE@RBRICK look. It also has articulated arms and legs, allowing users to pose Mikey in a variety of different poses. This particular version of BE@RBRICK Mikey is also Medicom’s standardized 400% size, which is almost 11 inches tall, making it quite a sizable figure.
- Product Name: BE@RBRICK Lisa Larson Mikey 400％
- Manufacturer: Medicom Toy
- Specifications: Painted and articulated plastic figure
- Height (Approx.): 280 mm
BE@RBRICK Lisa Larson Mikey: Blue Ver. 400%
Like the previously mentioned figure, this alternate version of Mikey replaces the feline’s original red color with a beautiful shade of blue. Aside from the color change, this item is identical to the original Mikey BE@RBRICK figure. Fans of Lisa Larson’s work or avid collectors of BE@BRICK figures will not want to miss out on these unique entries to Medicom Toy’s collection.
- Product Name: BE@RBRICK Lisa Larson Mikey: Blue Ver. 400%
- Manufacturer: Medicom Toy
- Specifications: Painted and articulated plastic figure
- Height (Approx.): 280 mm
About Lisa Larson
Lisa Larson was born in a southern Swedish parish named Härlunda in 1931. From a young age, it was clear that she inherited her father’s love of art, as she expressed great interest in drawing, painting, designing, and carving with whatever materials she could find. Although she originally wanted to go into fashion design, she quickly found her passion for ceramics during her time at Gothenburg’s College of Crafts and Design. Larson would later go on to work at Gustavsberg, one of Sweden’s largest ceramics workshops. Here, she created some of her most famous works, like the ABC Girls. Currently, Larson lives with her husband in Nacka, which is only a short distance from the ceramic studio she created in 1992.
About Mikey
Mikey was originally a drawing created by Lisa Larson for a picture book titled “Baby Number Book” that was released in Japan in 2010. Although Lisa Larson did many of the illustrations for the book, her daughter, Johanna, helped design it. The simple red striped cat had a slow start at first, but Mikey eventually gained an incredible following. Many different products featuring the lovable cat were later produced, cementing Mikey as a popular figure throughout Japan.
Other Important Lisa Larson Works
Although Mikey is one of Larson’s most popular works in Japan, other works have made a name for themselves around the globe as well. One particularly notable collection of works is the ABC Girls.
ABC Girls
The ABC Girls refer to a collection of 5 ceramic figurines of large, curvy women that Larson designed while she was working at Gustavsberg. Each figurine has a unique name that begins with the first few letters of the alphabet -- those names being Amalia, Beata, Charlotta, Dora, and Emma. Although these figurines were originally designed to be book supports, they were too light to be effective. The expensive, time-consuming coloring process used for these works also makes them exceedingly rare today, making them highly sought after by collectors of Larson’s work.
Links
BE@RBRICK Lisa Larson Mikey 400%
BEARBRICK Lisa Larson Mikey: Blue Ver. 400%
BE@RBRICK Series
BE@BRICK Label