On September 10, 2025, Pop Mart opened its doors to Bordeaux locals on rue Sainte-Catherine. As an exhibition, the shop displays its iconic art toy collections, inviting us into its world, between contemplation and collecting.
Pop Mart is a Chinese company founded in 2010 by Wang Ning in Beijing. With its unique concept, the company has established itself as a real cultural phenomenon and leader of the "blind box" culture. For a while now, we've been hearing a lot about it among young people, reviving the collector's flame or creating it for some.
The Blind box concept, the art of mystery:
At the heart of Pop Mart's success is a brilliant idea: buying without knowing what you'll get. Buying a little mystery box blind that gives you a random collectible figurine. And it works! Every figurine bought and hidden in that box turns simple satisfaction into a real game of excitement, like a lottery draw. Trust fate or chance to get the figurine you want, and pray to add it to your collection.
Does that ring a bell? The Blind box concept strongly recalls Pokémon cards: you buy as much for the object as for the moment of opening. Like rare cards in a booster, some Pop Mart figurines or plushies become highly coveted, fueling passion and the collector's desire.
Figurines, real works of art?
These figures aren't just products, they're avatars of a unique emotional, aesthetic and artistic world for each collection. That's where one of Pop Mart's pillars lies: the artists. Often from the illustration and design worlds, they give life to characters like Molly, Labubu, Skullpanda, Simon and Crybaby.
These figurines, called "art toys", are far more than simple toys or display objects: they're a mix of contemporary art, design and pop culture. Each series has its own aesthetic and singular story, turning collecting into a form of artistic participation.
- Their proximity to pop art shows in their ability to raise popular culture to the rank of art: here the toy becomes an aesthetic icon and an object of contemplation accessible to all.
- Their proximity to design shows aesthetically: the precision of forms, proportions, color palette, and care taken over packaging make these figurines true artistic creations.
In short, Pop Mart isn't just a toy or figurine shop: it's a now-global cultural brand, built on rarity and surprise with an innovative, generational community. You can now discover this fascinating world directly in the shop on rue Sainte-Catherine in Bordeaux.
Useful Info
Address: 8 Rue Sainte-Catherine, 33000 Bordeaux
Website: https://www.popmart.com/fr
