Dead Zebra Inc founder and creative director Andrew Bell enjoys working in a variety of mediums, from illustrations and paintings to toys and sculptures. His expressive characters embody a complex set of emotions, lending them a real sense of life and hinting at a deeper narrative. The work is tied together by a sense of humor that often belies a more serious and somber message.
Andrew draws inspiration from his travels, his dreams, and the diversity of life surrounding him in his home of Brooklyn, New York . Over the last 19 years he has published several books based on his “Creatures in my Head” series of illustrations and has released hundreds of prints, toys and products through his company Dead Zebra Inc and collaborating partners including Kidrobot, Myplasticheart, Squishable, GitHub and Google.
His work has been featured in gallery shows and publications around the world including The New York Times, Wired, Newsweek and Fast Company. You may have even seen his famous Café Grumpy logo on HBO’s ‘Girls’, or his Google Android toy on widely syndicated The Big Bang Theory. He has received four “Designer Toy Award” honors, including 2015 and 2018 Toy of the Year accolades.
Andrew taught for several years at the Parsons School of Design in New York and has previously given guest lectures at F.I.T, Pratt and Google.
EDUCATION
2000 : B.F.A. School of Visual Arts, New York, NY
PREVIOUSLY
Before focusing exclusively on his own work, Andrew spent several years freelancing for Marvel Comics and served as a senior designer in Nickelodeon’s New York office for five years.
EXHIBITIONS
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2014
“Factory Strangers”
The Stranger Factory
Albuquerque, NM2013
“Odd Obst”
AdHocSpace
Vienna, Austria2012
“The Great Escape”
The Stranger Factory
Albuquerque, NM2011
“Love the End”
Rotofugi Gallery
Chicago, IL2009
“It’s What’s Inside that Counts”
Rivet Gallery
Columbus, OH2008
“Burning Desire”
Gallery 1988
Los Angeles, CA2007
“Hot Curry!”
Rotofugi Gallery
Chicago, IL2006
“The Problem With Reproduction”
193c
Brooklyn, NY2005
“Don’t Look At Me”
Kidrobot
New York, NY -
2014
Back to Back Black Tour
New York Comic Con
Designer Con2013
Artists @Google Talk
Google, Inc
Mountain View, CASigning
Sixxa Store
Vienna, AustriaDunny Release & Drawing Party
Kidrobot
New York, NY2012
Dunny Signing Tour
Kidrobot
San Francisco, CA
New York, NY2011
STGCC Featured Guest
SingaporeI Love Munny
Speaker and Judge
Freakstore
Caracas, Venezuela2010
Please Draw With Me
Kidrobot
New York, NYNouveaux Monstres
LiFE
Saint-Nazaire, France2009
Nouveaux Monstres
Lille 3000
Lille, FranceNouveaux Monstres
EXIT Festival
Paris, France2008
Kidrobot 15 Release
Kidrobot
New York, NY & Chicago, ILKidrobot Opening
Kidrobot
New York, NY2007
“Beyond Ultraman”
Pasadena Museum of California Art
Pasadena, CA