Bio/CV

Sculptor Will Rimel studied Ceramics at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art. Since then, residencies at Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design in St. Louis, MO and The Ceramic Center in Cedar Rapids, IA allowed him to explore the idea of the “freak show” and our experiences through toys. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, his bizarre and cartoonish figures explore personal narrative through cartoonish and toy-like imagery. His custom designer toys featured at Kidrobot, Martian Toys and Clutter Magazine combine vinyl sculpture with hand carved clay, blurring the line between toy design and fine art.

Education
2006-11 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville BFA Graduate 2011

Exhibitions/Awards
2021 “Saturday Morning Cereal”
Gristle Art Gallery
Brooklyn, NY

2020 “Microcosm III”
Visual SD
San Diego, CA

2020 “Tea & Cookies: 17th Biennial Teapot Exhibition”
Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design
St. Louis, MO

2019 “Funk Muffins”
Lambert Airport
St. Louis, MO

2019 “Funko Roasto”
Hecho a Mano
Santa Fe, NM

2019 ”Super Right Now”
Pocosin Art Center
Columbia, NC

2019 “Face First”
Osom Gallery
Chicago, IL

2019 “Bubbles - Custom Group Show”
Clutter Gallery
Beacon, NY

2019 “Ness Is More”
York Hall
London. England

2019 “World War Yet”
Martian Toy Gallery
Philadelphia, PA

2018 “Artist-In-Residence 10 Year Anniversary Exhibtion”
Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design
St. Louis, MO

2018 “Custom Toy Of The Year” Nominee
Designer Toy Awards

2018 “Aloha! Lolligag Custom Show”
PIQ
New York, NY

2018 “Stacked”
Chicago Truborn
Chicago, IL

2018 “Genesis Group Show”
Imaginary Clouds Gallery
Philadelphia, PA

2018 “Identi-TEA: 16th Biennial Teapot Exhibition”
Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design
St. Louis, MO

2017 “Vagabonds”
Pasadena Convention Center
Pasadena, CA

2017 “Visitors From Another World”
Rotofugi Designer Toy Store and Gallery
Chicago, IL

2017 “Luna Custom Toy Show”
Rotofugi Designer Toy Store and Gallery
Chicago, IL

2017 “Make Shift”
Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design
St. Louis, MO

2016 “Level Up; The Art Of Geek Culture”
Edwardsville Art Center
Edwardsville, IL

2016 “Can I Kick It?”
Chicago Truborn
Chicago, IL

2016 Cory Sever Chris Bauer & Exist Magazine Present: Secret Show #3
Lemp Brewery
St. Louis, MO

2016 The Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design: “Influences and Inspirations”
Kansas City Convention Center
Kansas City, MO

2015 “Gift Wrapped”
Clutter Gallery
Beacon, NY

2015 “Space Crab Wars”
Pasadena Convention Center
Pasadena, CA

2015 “Martian Toys Presents”
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
Manhatten, NY

2015 “Circus!”
Foundry Art Center
St. Charles, MO

2015 “Biennial Quad State Exhibition”
Quincy Art Center
Quincy, IL

2015 “Biennial Faculty Show”
Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design
St. Louis, MO

2014 “Go Figure”
Black Earth Gallery
Cedar Rapids, IA

2014 “Hello Trikky”
Kidrobot
San Francisco, CA

2014 “Sandoozles and Ocelots: Residency Exhibition”
The Ceramic Center
Cedar Rapids, IA

2014 “Vinyl Frontier”
Chicago Truborn
Chicago, IL

2014 “Fif-TEA: 14th Biennial Teapot Exhibition”
Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design
St. Louis, MO

2014 “In(er) Out(er) Space”
Mad Art Gallery
St. Louis, MO

2013 “Coe College: Presenters and Residents”
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA

2013 “Biennial Faculty Show”
Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design
St. Louis, MO

2013 “Artist-In-Residence Exhibition”
Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design
St. Louis, MO

2013 “Printmaking And Sculpture Invitational”
St. Charles Community College
Cottleville, MO

2012 “Humenagerie: Containers Of An Uncertain Ancestry”
St. Louis Artists' Guild
St. Louis , MO

2012 “Best Work Least Likely To Be In An Art Fair”
Schlafly Art Fair
St. Louis, MO

2012 “Best In Clay”
Emerging Artists: Works From The Studio
Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design, St. Louis, MO

2012 “Bradley University’s 3rd Biennail Central Time Ceramics Exhibition”
Bradley University Gallery
Peoria, IL

Public Installations
2013 Technical/Creative Installation Advisor
St. Louis Childrens Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Juror
2019 “Shaw Art Fair”
St. Louis, MO

2014 “Playdate”
The Ceramic Center
Cedar Rapids, IA