Have you ever wondered what to give your children after the world burns down to the ground and you are trapped in a post-apocalyptic nightmare whereby every day is a titanic struggle between life and death? Have you ever thought what you would give your kid during such a crisis that can match the twisted outlook of your new world? How about a teddy bear from hell?

Just looking at these images makes me want to call my shrink on speed dial. The bears look like tiny smoldering demons who would like nothing more than to douse you gasoline so you can join the party. If I had one of these things in my room, I think I would cry myself to sleep every night.

So where can you buy one for the annoying kid who lives down the street? Alas, you cannot. These aren’t for sale but rather they are the products of the wonderfully deranged artist Matt Campbell who is currently exhibiting the demonic bears in a downtown art gallery in New York City. So yes … while the prospect of holding one nuclear fallout deranged teddy freaked you out, imagine being in a whole room of them, staring at you through their melted plastic eyes while licking their razor sharp incisors with predatory delight.

Sounds like a good time if you ask me.

Matt Campbell’s ‘Out of the Black’ at Gallery Hanahou (animalnewyork <- new window)