About The Artist
Miss Mindy creates in her home studio in Eagle Rock, CA., with her artist husband Rick O’Brien and a slew of very loud forest creatures. Considered an elf or a mushroom-witch (depending on what time of year you catch her) she tends to be reclusive at times with bouts of online “art explosions” whenever she feels like it.
‘Cartoon Folk Art’ is how she describes her creations which range from fluid line work and hand-crafted dimensional ‘Pop UP’ paintings to custom toys and sculptures. She’s gained immense notoriety for her custom toys and one of a kind sculptures and currently exploring new ways to create which are more environmentally friendly! (she’s heavy into mycelium)
Born into a big hearted family of artists and designers, Miss Mindy was always surrounded by creativity. Most of the inspiration to join the cartoon world came from her grandmother Mary Ellison Allen who worked as an ink and paint girl at Disney in the 1930’s on Snow White & Pinocchio, wore tiny polyester suits and bright red lipstick. Her Sister, CJ Metzger is also a tremendous ‘paint-ress’, fellow collaborator and muse. Miss Mindy’s Husband Rick, an amazing fine artist and sculptor in his own right... is a mad scientist of sorts. He worked at Disney Imagineering, created grand miniatures and sets for various notable films, and they have worked together on occasion to create epic one-of-a-kind creations. Last, but certainly not least, her grandparents Ralf and Jeanette Johnstone were illustrators and puppeteers. These two souls (even though they have long since transcended into the ether) are launching her mind into a whole new realm as of late… we’ll have to wait and see.
Miss Mindy has been a prolific professional artist for many years. She continues to paint commissions for her private collectors, and showcase her paintings and sculpture, whilst character designing & art directing at random. Experimental cartoons and design for animation studios such as Nickelodeon, Disney, Warner Brothers, and Cartoon Network are also apart of her tool belt, along with illustrations and product for companies such as Mattel, Hard Rock café, Enesco, and many others. The true life of an independent artist! ( ha ha ) She has also written and illustrated two books with Baby Tattoo Books Publishing and designed her own line of vinyl toys “Designer Series One” with Disney. Miss Mindy was the first female to be the “artist in residence” at Wonderground gallery in Downtown Disney, and has created art for the Disney parks for over a decade. In recent years, our intrepid little elf created The WORLD OF MISS MINDY (her own art brand) which has made its way to the world stage! She art directed this ‘style twist’ explosion and placed them on the beloved Disney, Warner Bros and Wizard of OZ Characters! Much gratitude to all that made it possible.
So what’s next? Miss Mindy is currently immersed in multiple SECRET projects, painting commissions, original sculpture for select galleries and cartoons which will be revealed as they surface. She is also currently exploring new ways to mass-produce her figures with the environment in mind. More to come as the evolution of an artist continues….so stay tuned!
Press:
Juxtapoz, Pop!, LA Times, Channel 4 News, Channel 5 News, Disney WDW & DL online, Boing Boing, Daily Du Jour, USA Today, LA Weekly, Channel 5 and 8 Las Vegas / THE MORE and NOW – show. Art Scene LA, The OC Register, POP SUGAR, Disney Merchandise Monthly… and many more.
Exhibitions & Projects
2020-24
~ Commissions / Secret NDA Animation / Gallery and new product line work / Walt Disney World Festival of the Arts showcase… signings and continued releases with the Disneyland Galleries / Comic-Con San Diego online with Side Show Collectibles and more / Artist Talks and workshops / Virtual and in person signings and demos, / Fundraisers to help those in need.
2019
~ NEW YORK TOY FAIR: DISNEY SHOWCASE VINYL Series 3 Debut! / Continued releases for THE WORLD OF MISS MINDY presents DISNEY / MCM ComicCon London signing / Disneyland Paris signing / Haunted Mansion 50th Anniversary Disneyland Showcase, Wonderground Gallery / D23 Dream Store Exhibition ‘30th Anniversary of The Little Mermaid’ / New York Comic Con / LA Comic Con / more TBA…!
2018
~ NEW YORK TOY FAIR: DISNEY SHOWCASE VINYL Sneek Peek! Jan 2018
/ 2nd Release THE WORLD OF MISS MINDY presents DISNEY – Worldwide /
Debut, The World Of Miss Mindy personal line ( Candy Circus )
/ Disneyworld Festival of The Arts Epcot / Artist In Residence October: Disney’s WONDERGROUND Gallery / commissions continue…
2017
~ The World of Miss Mindy ~ Disney Showcase Collection and fine art Debuts D23 Dreamstore July / Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival March 11th and 12th / Mattel xG1988 : The Joys of Toys ~ June 23rd / Q POP – Lolligag art show / Disney Barn Benefit / commissions continue…
2016
~ Disney Cruise Line Residency / WonderGround ‘Art Attack’ Sept. 2nd ~Disney Barn Benefit Spring and Winter / In and Out Benefit for homeless Charity/ Chase Place Children’s Benefit/ WonderGround Gallery Art Attack event and October Artist in Residence / Walt Disney World Exhibitions / Color Ink Book / …..
2015
~ Disneyana Gallery in Disneyland / WonderGround Gallery art and vinyl releases * October Artist in Residency / WildBrain Character Designer / Warner Brothers Designer / Walt Disney World ~ Haunted Mansion Exhibition / Disney’s D23 ~ Artist in Dreamstore / Liz Houston Gallery Exhibition and Live Paint DTLA / Dick Van Dyke exhibiton…
2014
~ Flower – Pepper Gallery – “Twice Told Tales” Group Exhibition & “4 year Anniversary” Exhibition & “Miniscule” Exhibiton curated by Poppy Lawman / Heart Show – 8 Ball – With Classic Hardware / Disneyana Gallery in Disneyland ‘Haunted Mansion 45th Anniversary’ / Off the Page Gallery ‘Maleficent and Fairies’ ~ California Adventure/ WonderGround Gallery/ Disney Artist / WildBrain Character Designer / Baby Tattooville guest Artist ~ LIVE / Marcas Gallery all female exhibition / ‘One of One’ toy show curated by artist Johnny Rodriguez KMNDZ / Mattel Designer.
2013
~ Wonderground Gallery & DStreet Disney – Solo Fine Art Exhibition & Artist In Residence / D23 – One of a kind ‘Wonderland Chess Set’ exhibition in Disney’s Dream store, *Created with Ahab’s Shipyard / Pop Gallery, Santa Fe – “Pop Femme” annual group show & benefit / Leanna Lin’s Wonderland – Artist Sisters & friends – “Through The Looking Glass.” / WildBrain Character Designer.
2012
~ Wonderground Gallery & DStreet Disney – Solo Fine Art Exhibition & Artist In Residence / Wonderground Gallery : Downtown Disney- Grand Opening Celebration Show / WWA Gallery – Culver City ‘About Face’ group show / Stranger Factory Gallery – ABQ New Mexico, ‘Sisters Solo Show : Circus Folke’ / Strychnin Gallery – Germany, ‘New English’ / ARTFEST – chosen to teach drawing and painting for renowned art retreat in Seattle. / WWA Gallery – Culver City, ‘Gag me MM_1bio picswith a Toon’ *group show group show curated by Steven Daily / Toy Art Gallery – Melrose, Hollywood, ‘Bellicosity’ *group show group show curated by Nathan Hamil / Pop Folk Quartet- Whittier, CA – Artist Sisters w/ Joel Nakamura & artist Annette / Leanna Lin’s Wonderland – Artist Sisters annual holiday Art show. WildBrain Character Designer.
2011
~ Screaming Sky Gallery, Oregon ‘Sugar & Spice’ – group show / La Luz De Jesus – Hollywood, 25th Anniversary group show / Strychnin Gallery – Germany, ‘Etiquette show’ & breast cancer benefit / WWA Gallery ‘Rayola’ , group show / D Street, Downtown Disney® District , Custom Pirate Vinyl signing / Gallery 1988 – Hollywood , “Inle” group exhibition curated by Greg ‘Crayola’ Simkins / Pop Gallery, Santa Fe – “Pop Femme” annual group show & AIDS benefit / Leanna Lin’s Wonderland – Artist Sisters annual holiday Art & gift show. WildBrain Character Designer.
2010
~ WWA Gallery, culver city – “Trappings” co-curated with sister CJ Metzger / Pop Gallery, Santa Fe – “Pop Femme” annual group show & AIDS benefit / Giant Robot 2 – “The Monster within” with artist Buff Monster / Screaming Sky Gallery, Portland Oregon – “Naked Tea Party” solo inkwork exhibition / WWA Gallery “Pie in the Sky” Solo sister’s show with CJ Metzger / Arroyo Arts Collective open studio tour – featured artist / Copro Nason “Bon Appetite” curated by Nouar / Leanna Lin’s Wonderland – “Heart on our Sleeve” boutique exhibition.
2009
~ La Luz de Jesus Gallery – featured artist “Painted Ladies” / POP Gallery, Santa fe – featured artist / Pasadena Designer Con – featured artist / Featured ‘Baby Tattooville’ Artist with Greg ‘Crayola’ Simkins : KMNDZ: Brandi Milne : Lola Gil : Ragnar : Gris Grimly : Michael Hussar and many more…/ Avenue 50 Gallery – NELA, group exhibition / Nickelodeon Animation artist
2008
~ Nickelodeon Animation artist / The Hive Gallery – Featured Artist, with sister CJ Metzger / Gallery Revisited – Group exhibition
2007
~ Subtext – San Diego, CA “Kokeshi Show” / Carmichael Gallery “ Delirium Tremens” group show / San Diego Comic and Popular Arts Convention – Booth Exhibition w/sister CJ Metzger / The Wind-up Gallery – Arizona “unFOURgetable” w/ CJ Metzger, Lesley Reppeteaux & Shaunna Peterson / American Electric Tattoo – group show / Gallery Revisited “Secret Lives of Dolls” Artist Sisters Solo Show / The Hive Gallery – New Years Group Exhibition / Nucleus Gallery “After These Messages”- group exhibition and window installation / Storyopolis – Exhibition of book artwork.
and many more…
PLEASE NOTE - Legal Smeagol: All images on this site are protected by the United States and international copyright laws and are the exclusive property of the artist DBA Miss Mindy. No images are within Public Domain. Images may not be copied, published, reproduced, projected, manipulated, used or altered in any way without written permission from Miss Mindy. The use of any Artwork or Content as the basis of for another concept or illustration is a violation of copyright.
