West Coast artist/designer Sam Flores has a flair for creating childlike characters that convey tenderness and innocence (while also having a certain sad, forlorn quality) but, at the same time, manage to be imbued with a certain coolness that perhaps speaks to Flores' love of graffiti art. There's also a really subtle, beautiful Asian aesthetic that he incorporates into his art through lush landscapes(cherry blossoms, bonsai trees, etc.) and the clothing he chooses for his characters (kimono-style, bell-shaped, floor-length gowns, etc.). Now, his fine art is making its way into your china cabinet (or on the already-crowded kitchen counter, for those of us who live in shoebox-sized apartments in NYC). Look at how adorable the characters are -- don't they just look like the hip-hop answer to those Precious Moments dodos?
Lost Innocence Pint Glass, $15. Branches Coffee Mug, $12. Visit http://www.upperplayground.com