I’m having a solo show called “The Secret Life of Toys” at Corey Helford Gallery in Los Angeles from June 27 to August 1, 2026. There will be an artist reception on the evening of June 27, so if you’re in the Los Angeles area, please plan to stop by. I’d love to meet you! 

For those curious to know what my show is about, here’s my show statement:

Old tin toys are my favorite subjects to paint, largely because of their faces. Their expressions carry an uncanny sense of personality, making it easy to imagine them behaving like humans. 

This exhibition centers on my “Tin Toy Porn” series. The series began as a deliberately provocative joke—an attempt to make something overtly “for men.” In these paintings, vintage toys are staged in suggestive and often absurd scenarios. Each piece is built around a familiar phrase, idiom, or double entendre where the image and title work together, inviting viewers to connect the visual joke with the cultural shorthand behind it. 

What began as an April Fool’s joke evolved into an ongoing exploration of projection, humor, and human interaction. By placing adult themes onto nostalgic objects, I’m interested in the tension that creates—playful and uncomfortable, ridiculous and oddly relatable.

While the work leans heavily into innuendo and mischief, a few pieces shift toward more straightforward compositions, offering a quieter counterpoint. Together, they reflect a range of human relationships, filtered through the expressive personalities of these small, mechanical toys. Ideally, they’re paintings people notice, talk about, and ultimately enjoy.

For purchase information or to request the collector’s preview for the show, please email [email protected]

Corey Helford Gallery web site