When people ask me what I do for a living and I explain DOLLS magazine, non-collectors don’t get it. Their immediate assumption is either the magazine is about the type of playthings seen at big box stores … or at most, they imagine cheap and trinket-y porcelain dolls that can be found at dollar stores across the country. But they don’t realize that dolls are art.

In my mind, dollmakers are the most talented artists in the world. As I took in all the three-dimensional masterpieces at a show I recently attended, I was once again reminded of this sentiment. Think about it. Their talent is multi-faceted. Many doll artists not only sculpt, but also paint, costume, engineer and more. To be an artist who can successfully sing so many notes, is no small feat.

So it is ironic to me that beyond the niche doll-collecting audience, dolls aren’t really recognized as art by mainstream audiences. And I feel that art connoisseurs— patrons of paintings, glasswork, sculpture and more—are missing out on the greatest art of all … doll art. Perhaps as doll lovers, it is our responsibility to educate every chance we get to share the joy of what we all love to a larger audience, and in so doing, keep doll collecting alive and strong.