Downtown Los Angeles’ Corey Helford Gallery (CHG) is excited to announce their next major group show collaboration, Care Bears™️ Forever, in partnership with Cloudco Entertainment, the parent company of the iconic Care Bears brand. This exclusive event will feature new and original, one-of-a-kind artwork, inspired by the beloved, classic Care Bears characters, from over 75 international contemporary artists.
Celebrating the forever-lasting influence of the Care Bears, this colorful and joyous experience will also offer attendees a special glimpse into the brand’s history with the Care Bears™️ Forever Pop-up Shop in Gallery 2 (featuring limited-edition merchandise) and Friends Forever: The Beary Besties Gallery (featuring the original Care Bears illustrations that started it all by Elena Kucharik, as well as artwork from the original greeting card line) in Gallery 3.
Introduced in 1982 through consumer products, greeting cards, and later a series of animated television shows and feature films, Care Bears is one of the most popular and endearing children’s properties in the world. The Care Bears brand has been a source of goodwill and unwavering positivity for generations. Central to their enduring charm is the iconic belly badges, each representing a message of love and caring that continues to resonate with fans worldwide. Now, a new generation of artists, inspired by over 40 years of memories, have re-interpreted the iconic characters in their aesthetic through a wide variety of mediums.
Kucharik, an American children's illustrator known for her expansive range of watercolor paintings used across the entire line of Care Bears, became the primary artist for the Care Bears in the early ‘80s ‒ creating hundreds of full-color illustrations for cards, books, and various licensed products. Her Care Bears paintings are the most widely used to this day. Cloudco Entertainment’s Head of Marketing, Kristeen Tibbits, shares:
We are thrilled to present Care Bears™️ Forever, our first-ever art exhibit that celebrates the timeless appeal of Care Bears. This marks a pivotal and highly anticipated moment for the brand and showcases the brand's evolution in art and culture, bringing together over 75 talented artists. We’re excited to see how these artists have infused their unique styles and perspectives into the whimsical land of Care-A-Lot. This exhibit not only pays homage to the brand's heritage but also serves as a vibrant reflection of its continued relevance in today's culture.
The artist roster for Care Bears™️ Forever features: aica, Ana Bagayan, Andrea Guzzetta, Andrew Brandou, Angie Jones, Anthony Ausgang, APAK, Arturo García de las Heras, Ashley Dreyfus, Bennett Slater, Blaine Fontana, Bluno Kik, Bob Dob, Brady Willmott, Brandi Milne, Bubblehead, bumblebeelovesyou, Camilla d'Errico, Carlos Ramos, Caroline Gaudreault, Chen-Dao Lee, Christybomb, Chishi Morimura, Ciou, Eric Joyner, Ewa Prończuk-Kuziak, Gary Baseman, Hallie Packard, Hanna Jaeun, Harald Austad, Hera of HERAKUT, Hikari Shimoda, Jackie Dunn Smith, Jana Brike, Jasmine Becket-Griffith, JD King, Jesús Aguado, Junko Mizuno, Blythe by Junko Wong and Junie Moon, Junna Maruyama, Kazuki Takamatsu, Kii Arens, Kiseok Kim, Korin Faught, Kristen Liu-Wong, Leegan Koo, Li Shanmei, Luke Chueh, Mariko, Mario Soria, Martin Hsu, Matt Dangler, Mayuka Yamamoto, Melany, Messy Desk, Michael Mararian, Miho Hirano, Molly Devlin, Naoto Hattori, Nate Frizzell, Nouar, Nychos, ONCH, Pip & Pop, Raul Guerra, Richard Ahnert, Robert Palacios, Shinnosuke Hariya, Simone Legno of Tokidoki, Sun-Mi, Tetsuji Aoyama, Thomas Ascott, three, Tina Yu, Xue Wang, Yoko d'Holbachie, Yulia Pustoshkina, Yuka Sakuma, Yumiko Kayukawa, and Zoé Byland.
Introduced in 1982 through consumer products, greeting cards, and later a series of animated television shows and feature films, Care Bears is one of the most popular and endearing children’s properties in the world. Fans of all ages are drawn to the lovable, huggable bears from Care-a-Lot who inspire all to have fun, share, and care. The Care Bears first appeared in their television specials in 1983 and 1984, followed by a long-running animated TV series and the leap to the big screen in 1985-87 with The Care Bears Movie trilogy.
Care Bears & Cousins, a Netflix original CGI-animated series, launched in fall 2015. In 2019, a brand-new look and mission for the Care Bears was introduced in Care Bears: Unlock the Magic, a 48-episode, 2D animated series currently airing in the U.S. on Cartoon Network, Boomerang, and Max via its Cartoonito preschool block. In 2022, the Care Bears celebrated 40 years of sharing and caring through the launch of new consumer products with key retail partners and a range of new toys with Basic Fun.