About the Designs“I think everything an artist draws is a self-portrait in some way or another. The art I created for the cufflink designs for Hobbs & Kent is no exception. I illustrated the theme, 'The Four Vices of Man'. It began with what I think is the first and most powerful vice: women. As they say, 'The picture says it all.' Next came alcohol, which I’ve never had a problem with, yet like many I can fondly recall days in college when humorous events and situations were lubricated with nights of Olympic drinking. Next came gambling. Other than the occasional poker game with the same gang every three or four months, I’ve never been an avid player. l am humbled by my lack of ability to win the big pot. But hey, it’s not whether you win or lose, its, ‘whens the pizza coming?’. Finally, we have horses. I have ridden exactly twice in my life and had no idea of what I was doing. The horse knew it too. These are ‘The Four Vices’ according to me. Some of you will relate, some will not, but the important thing to realize is that like a good vice, cufflinks never go out of style.” -Gary Taxali | Artist BioGary Taxali is an award-winning illustrator, fine artist and toy designer. Gary has worked for clients including Time, Rolling Stone, Newsweek, GQ and The New York Times. He has exhibited in many galleries and museums throughout North America and Europe including The Jonathan LeVine Gallery, MondoPOP Gallery, The Antonio Colombo Gallery, Steve Lazarides’ gallery, The Outsiders, The Andy Warhol Museum, Museo d’Arte Contemporanea Donna Regina, Naples and The Museum of American Illustration at the Society of Illustrators. In 2005, he launched his first vinyl toy, The Toy Monkey, which included a special edition along with a silkscreen print commissioned by The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. This led Gary to create his own toy company, Chump Toys, which recently saw the release of his OH NO and OH OH vinyl figures. Aside from his gallery shows and illustration work, Gary also devotes a portion of his time teaching and lecturing at various arts organizations and schools such as OCAD University (Toronto, Canada), The Art Director's Club of Houston (Houston, USA), Dankmarks Designskole (Copenhagen, Denmark) and Istituto Europeo Di Design (Rome, Italy). He is a Founding Member of IPA (The Illustrators' Partnership of America) and sits on the Advisory Board of 3x3: The Magazine of Contemporary Illustration. Gary has also juried many student and professional competitions including The Society of Illustrators, The National Magazine Awards, The Dallas Society of Visual Communications and 3x3: The Magazine of Contemporary Illustration. Gary created the cover art and inside illustrations for Aimee Mann’s album @#%&*! Smilers, which earned a 2009 Grammy Award Nomination for Best Art Package. He has also won hundreds of other awards including a Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators, a Gold Medal from the National Magazine Awards Foundation, a Regional and National Gold Addy, a Shortlist Nomination for a Cannes Lion, and numerous awards from American Illustration, Communication Arts Illustration Annual, Print, Society of Publication Designers, The Chicago Creative Club and The Advertising and Design Club of Canada. In 2010, he released his first children’s book entitled This Is Silly, published by Scholastic Press. He lives and works in Toronto, Canada. | All Rights Reserved. © Gary Taxali

"The Holy Grail for many collectors is a pair of The Four Vices, a popular theme of the early Edwardian period. Wine, women and gambling (cards and horses) are the vices depicted with Monopoly-style tokens. These were usually handmade by jewellers and a hallmarked pair in sterling silver can easily fetch $1500 today." - James Cockington, The Sydney Morning Herald."