San Antonio designer toy maker opens new gallery in Southtown

Form Gallery, owned by toy-maker Aaron Moreno, will feature monthly exhibitions of designer toys — either sculpted by Moreno or other designers — every second Saturday on the month from 7 to 10 p.m. at 1906 South Flores Street. less Form Gallery, owned by toy-maker Aaron Moreno, will feature monthly exhibitions of designer toys — either sculpted by Moreno or other designers — every second Saturday on the month from 7 to 10 p.m. at 1906 ... more Photo: Aaron Moreno Photo: Aaron Moreno Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close San Antonio designer toy maker opens new gallery in Southtown 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

A local designer and toy maker recently opened a new gallery in Southtown last weekend, featuring handmade retro-style toys and action figures.

Form Gallery, owned by toy maker Aaron Moreno, will feature monthly exhibitions of designer toys — either sculpted by Moreno or other designers — every second Saturday of the month from 7 to 10 p.m. at 1906 South Flores Street.

Moreno, 38, told mySA.com he has been designing toys he wished he had growing up for about seven years now, aiming to open a gallery in his hometown.

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"These are toys you can't find at any store," he said. "You can maybe find similar toys at boutiques, but the majority of the ones in the store are hand-sculpted, painted by hand with authentic-looking packaging."

The self-taught toy maker said he picked up on the skill set pretty quickly, thanking his '80s roots for his success in the industry.

"I grew up being around the Mission's Drive-in and around a video store ... I was that kid on a BMX bike with a Slurpee in one hand and comic book in the other," Moreno laughed. "So all that '80s pop culture did something to my brain and helped me catch on quickly."

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Moreno's career has taken off since he started several years ago and created Retrobrand, the name of his toy-making company. Another company named Unbox Industries produces his toys.

He has also been featured in the New York Times, worked with many movie directors such as Clive Barker and Bryan Fuller, and will soon have a book, "MEATS by Retroband," coming out about his work.

From traveling to different conventions around the nation to bringing a niche toy industry to San Antonio, Moreno said he never in a million years thought he would be doing what he is doing.

"It's a pretty wild," he said. "The friendships I've made with other designers and celebrities has been amazing. I'm just excited to highlight the designer toy industry in a city that it normally wouldn't be available in."

Priscilla Aguirre is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre