Meet Rios Palante | Artist and Toy Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rios Palante and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rios, how do you think about risk?
To me, risks are taken when boundaries are broken, whenever you “step out of line,” your programmed self tells you to play it safe and stay within those lines but, change will only come when you take a risk. Risk is necessary for personal and professional growth. Take a risk, but also be prepared for some push back. If you believe in your “risk” go for it or remain on the outside, looking in.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a child, my dream was to create characters and stories for everyone, and now as an adult, I have been so fortunate to be able to create tales that reflect the ups and downs of growing up in the South Bronx. After losing my job at Toys R Us, I decided to design toys and comic books that supported the idea of inclusion, before it was cool. Sure, there are many comic book creators that think the same way, but I wanted to show the beauty of my culture as it is, without apology, I didn’t want to package my culture in a candy coated impression of what a hero should be. My heroes look like my friends from the neighborhood. They don’t wear spandex, and they are only trying to survive and thrive, rather than destroy some intergalactic threat. This path was not an easy one, however. In the toy industry, I found myself fighting against the old guard. I noticed the lack of inclusion, and representation in toys, packaging and licensed characters. When I presented an idea with a fresh perspective, it was met with push back. The company had mostly gone back to their old formula for success but not realizing that times had changed. During this battle with the old guard, I learned a valuable lesson, and it is this: Because for most people, seeing is believing, most will not support your idea until you make that concept tangible. Keep your blinders on, and move forward with or without them.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Anyone can take their friends to the normal tourist spots but I’d recommend deep into the 5 boroughs go NYC. I’d go to my hometown in the Bronx, and eat at Sofrito’s in the bronx, for traditional Puerto Rican food, then head down to Made in PR in the south side for some freestyle, reggaeton and hip hop music and drinks.Next day, catch a Yankee game. For Brooklyn, I would grab a slice from the original Lenny’s Pizza, then head out to NYC for some nostalgia at Toy Tokyo and Forbidden planet, be warned, its a geeky place! To round things out, I’d suggest going o Queens’ museum of the moving image, and the beach in the Far Rockaway’s.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Without a doubt, I have to give a huge shout out to my real life FU-Crew! All of those that support the FU-Stamps brand. I want to also shout out my super hero of a wife, Ana! She has been the structure from which I lead my life now. She helps me in so many ways, and has had my back from the beginning of this journey.

Website: fustamps.com

Instagram: @fustamps

Twitter: @fustamps

Facebook: fustamps

Image Credits
Roman Rios