Army Bratz Series 1

Army Bratz reimagines the iconic green plastic army men of childhood—not as symbols of play, but as unsettling reflections of a reality far too many students face today. These 3D-printed figures of child soldiers stand frozen in familiar toy-like poses, their innocence contrasted sharply with the roles they’re forced to embody.

By merging the visual language of nostalgic playthings with depictions of youthful vulnerability, Army Bratz exposes the uncomfortable truth of how American schools—spaces meant for learning, growth, and safety—are increasingly shaped by the threat of gun violence. The piece confronts the normalization of danger, urging viewers to question how a culture built around protecting children has allowed them to become symbolic soldiers in their own classrooms.

Each figure, both recognizable and deeply wrong, becomes a statement on lost innocence and the emotional toll of growing up in an environment shadowed by fear. Army Bratz invites reflection not only on the tragedies themselves but on the systems and societal choices that allow them to persist.

Provocative and thought-shifting, Army Bratz is a powerful addition to contemporary art exhibitions, social-justice installations, and collections centered on the intersection of childhood, culture, and crisis.

10" x 2" x 2"

August 2024. 

Limited series of 50 sets. 50% of all proceeds donated to Sandy Hook Promise Foundation.