Quiccs Grateful For Fans' Support Through The Years
Since joining a toy design contest in 2012, Filipino toy designer, illustrator and graffiti artist Quiccs Maiquez has been a household name in the designer toys industry for years. As an independent toy designer/producer, he has collaborated with international artists like Flabslab from Singapore, American designers Martina Toys, Kidrobot, and Hong Kong's Devil Toys.
Maiquez co-owns commercial design firm Burnwater Designer Studios as well. He is also represents graffiti crews both internationally and locally like, "Zinc Nite Crew", Three Flare Crew", and "Pilipinas Street Plan".
Quiccs' "TEQ63" toy line is a huge favorite among international and local collectors. At conventions like the recent ToyCon PH 2023, there's always a long queue at his booth during the three-day event.
Maiquez says he's overwhelmed with happiness when local fans/collectors come through to visit his booth and cop the latest TEQ63 toy at ToyCon PH every year. This wasn't the case when he was just starting out as a toy designer back in 2012.
"Super natututuwa ako especially na througout these years yung mga pinoy talaga, ano, andami naming fans, nagsimula ako sa toys, 2012. Walang may kilala sa akin dito. Parang 90% ng mga customers ko galing US. Tapos, hindi ko inakala na eventually magwa-warm up din yung mga pinoy sa art toys," he recalled. "Kasi dati, yung pinaka uso yung mga commercial toys. So, kaka-grind namin, kaka sali namin sa ToyCon PH, eventually nakilala kami ng mga locals, ng mga kapwa Pilipino. And very proud ako na up until now, very warm parin yung reception nila sa mga likha ko."
He was finally able to crack the local market thanks to his friends and supporters from the Filipino art community, most notably Christian "Bigboy" Cheng, who's an advocate of promoting local artists and owns an art gallery called "Secret Fresh" located at Ronac Art Center in Ortigas Avenue, San Juan City.
"With the help of our friends na din sa community ng Bullet Punk network and siguro sa exposure na rin na binibigay sa akin ni Bigboy Cheng ng Secret Fresh at yung mga partnerships namin with Adidas, Smart, tsaka Johnny Walker," Quiccs shared. "Dumadami yung mata na nakakakita sa vision ko, sa mga likha ko."
Quiccs has definitely accomplished a lot since 2012. He says that he's very happy and overwhelmed with the continuing support of local fans and collectors through the years, even during the pandemic.
"Very happy ako na very warm yung reception ng mga pinoy up until now all these years," relished the Filipino artist. "Kahit through the pandemic, now na we're back, andiyan parin sila. So, very proud ako."
