PHILADELPHIA:
WHERE LOVE MEETS INDEPENDENCE
WE THE POP-ARTISTS!
*Assembly Required has partnered with POP Solutions to presents Philadelphia's first and only Designer Toy Art Festival!
Experience an amazing event that celebrates toy culture. Discover independent artists, brands, and leading creators behind this global movement. It will be a Declaration of Independent Creators!
Just like Philly, love for toys bring people of all walks together!
-
All-ages experience with amazing toy art, live DJ'ing, delicious food & drinks - complete with collectible cans!
-
Shop innovative art toys, “bootlegs”, and eclectic brands driving the modern movement that is the designer toy culture!
-
Meet leading creative voices behind iconic, original, and independent brands from greater Philadelphia and across the country!
-
Adjacent events with food, music, entertainment, and a puppet slam
for grown-ups!
OUR SPONSORS
-(1).png)
INDIE ARTISTS UNITE
FRIDAY NIGHT
6PM-10PM
Pre-Assembled
Join us for the official kick-off party hosted by the Space Lab - A gallery dedicated to toy culture and creativity.
Meet up-and-coming artists and toy culture leaders from the scene.
Location:
The Space Lab
617 S. 2nd St.
SATURDAY MORNING
8AM-9:30AM
Brand Builder's Breakfast
Are you serious about building your brand?
Join us for breakfast and a Q/A session with veteran creatives who help indie brands learn how to architect ideas for licensing, production, and pitching projects and protecting your IP.
Location:
TBD
SATURDAY DAY
11AM-5PM
*Assembly Required
The all-ages festival is in full-swing with amazing vendors, surprise guests, 2D/3D art, collectibles, customs, "bootlegs", live art, and more.
Enjoy music, drinks, and food from nearby venues!
Location:
23rd Street Armory
2 S 23rd St,
SATURDAY NIGHT
8PM-10PM
The Wham Bam Puppet Slam
Nothing can prepare you for this unbelievable grown-up entertainment experience with live performances from the regional puppet art scene. Leave the kiddos at home!
Tickets at the door.
Location:
The Deep End Studios
1313 S 33rd St.
SUNDAY DAY
11AM-4PM
Disassembled
We are back at the Armory for the final day of celebrating toy culture with art, food music and more!
Bring the entire family and support art and toy culture.
Location:
23rd Street Armory
2 S 23rd St,
VENDORS
ARTISTS + BRANDS + SPECIAL GUESTS
ABOUT *ASSEMBLY REQUIRED
Founder, Matthew J. Casale
In 2019, the *Assembly Required designer art toy expo was born in Asheville, NC, as the first of its kind.
Its mission: A celebration of the designer toy art movement, and to help independent artists share their works with the world.
Since then, *Assembly Required has doubled in size with opportunities to expand.
With sites now firmly set on Philadelphia, *Assembly Required founders find themselves coming full circle, returning to the city where they spent their formative years.
*Assembly Required organizers join forces with Philadelphia native creative agency, POP Solutions, and designer toy pioneers, GoHero, to bring the independence spirit of art toy culture to the birthplace of independence.
WHAT ARE ART TOYS?
In the early 2000s, a handful of independent artists who were inspired by their love for toys setout to make their own. No committees, just love, passion, and pure imagination. Toys became a canvas for artistic expression.
These pioneers would go on to create successful toy brands, art platforms, collaborations with fortune 500s, drive fashion, and a revolution for collectibles, toys, and the art world.
The global designer toy market is expected to represents $62B by 2030 and has massive cultural crossover with fashion, art, sports, music and entertainment! Unique collaborations from artists and brands like Bearbricks, KAWS, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Chanel, and Disney have produced some of the most groundbreaking designer toys ever.
The Designer Toy Art Festival brings together indie artists and designer toy brands together for an amazing festival experience! This is Philadelphia's opportunity to enter this amazing world of toy art!
"art is not a luxury.
Art drives BUSINESS."
steve Forde
POP/GoHero/LBO/Marusan USA
PARTICIPATING ARTIST GALLERY
CONTACT + SIGN-UP
© 2025 POP Solutions is an Agents of Imagery LLC. company