Kaws

Kaws

United States • 1974 • 1679 followers

American artist and designer blurring the lines between art and product design, influenced by Pop Art and iconic characters.

Nationality

Categories

Artistic movements

Biography

Brian Donnelly, aka Kaws, is an American artist and designer born in 1974 in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. As a street artist, painter, illustrator, sculptor, publisher, his work touches on everything that surrounds the world of Pop Art.

After receiving his Bachelor of Fine Art in Illustration in 1996 from the School of Visual Arts in New York, Kaws briefly worked for Disney as a freelance animator. Today he lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

Kaws began his career in the 1990s with street interventions. He superimposed his own work onto billboards, bus stops, and phone booth advertisements. As he became more well-known, his ads were taken down and collected by people. He created or reused well-known characters from comics and cartoons in his offbeat imagery. Subjects like the Michelin Man, the Simpsons, Mickey Mouse, Snoopy, Sponge Bob, are all common figures rooted in the collective imagination that allows the artist to adopt a universal language. Kaws's goal is to make art accessible to all. He signs all his creations with a very particular trademark: figures with crossed-out eyes, making his style easily recognizable.

After becoming famous, Kaws appropriated different techniques and extended his artistic production to the world of sculpture and painting on canvas. The passage from 2D to 3D works is motivated by his search for greater mastery of space and reality. His sculptures can reach monumental dimensions. Some of his giant characters have been exposed in front of museums, and they never fail to draw the attention of passers-by.

Kaws's work is influenced by Pop Art, but also by artists such as Gerhard Richter, Claes Oldenburg, or Chuck Close.

As an established artist on the international scene, Kaws blurs the line between art and product design. He works with major brands such as Nike, Vans, DC Shoes, Uniqlo. Kaws has also established a presence in the music and film industry, collaborating with Kanye West, Burton, Pharrell Williams, and many others.

Kaws has exhibited his work in some of the most famous galleries and museums around the world. His works are a part of several permanent collections such as that of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, TX, the Brooklyn Museum, NY, and the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, CA.

In 2024, renowned artist KAWS made waves with high-profile collaborations and exhibitions. He released the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon "Companion" with Audemars Piguet and a limited-edition collection in partnership with UNIQLO x Andy Warhol. His works were also featured at the Andy Warhol Museum and Fondation Louis Vuitton in major art exhibitions.

Looking ahead to 2025, KAWS will present "KAWS: FAMILY" at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville (opening March 15). This highly anticipated solo exhibition will showcase KAWS's iconic drawings, paintings, sculptures, and art collaborations, exploring human emotions and family bonds. A must-see for contemporary art lovers

Explore all artworks (128)

Design, Flayed Red, Kaws

Design . 28 x 12 x 7 cm Design . 11 x 4.7 x 2.8 inch

€900

Design, Holiday Singapore Black, Kaws

Design . 25.7 x 13 x 8.9 cm Design . 10.1 x 5.1 x 3.5 inch

€850

Sculpture, Companion - Set of 6, Kaws

Sculpture . 28 x 12.7 x 7.6 cm Sculpture . 11 x 5 x 3 inch

€7,280

Recommended by Artsper
Design, Holiday Taipei (Black), Kaws

Design . 14 x 18 x 14 cm Design . 5.5 x 7.1 x 5.5 inch

€1,100

Print, Lost time, Kaws

Print . 81 x 136 cm Print . 31.9 x 53.5 inch

€13,500

Design, Share companion, Kaws

Design . 31.5 x 16 x 10 cm Design . 12.4 x 6.3 x 3.9 inch

€2,500

Print, Warm Regards - Artist Proof, Kaws

Print . 50.8 x 35.6 x 0.3 cm Print . 20 x 14 x 0.1 inch

€12,091

Design, The Promise Grey, Kaws

Design . 34 x 16 x 24 cm Design . 13.4 x 6.3 x 9.4 inch

€1,490

Design, Holiday Taipei (Brown), Kaws

Design . 14 x 18 x 14 cm Design . 5.5 x 7.1 x 5.5 inch

€1,100

Print, Companion vs Astroboy, Kaws

Print . 90 x 65.7 x 0.1 cm Print . 35.4 x 25.9 x 0 inch

€10,800

Design, Holiday Thailand (Grey), Kaws

Design . 28 x 15 x 15 cm Design . 11 x 5.9 x 5.9 inch

€990

Design, BFF Beach Towel, Kaws

Design . 172 x 82 x 0.1 cm Design . 67.7 x 32.3 x 0 inch

€1,577

Design, 3 figurines Small lie, Kaws

Design . 28 x 5 x 5 cm Design . 11 x 2 x 2 inch

€2,000

Design, Display Dior, Kaws

Design . 32 x 2 x 8 cm Design . 12.6 x 0.8 x 3.1 inch

€4,500

Design, Chum Blanc, Kaws

Design . 30 x 20 x 9 cm Design . 11.8 x 7.9 x 3.5 inch

€800

Design, What Party Pink, Kaws

Design . 29 x 13 x 9 cm Design . 11.4 x 5.1 x 3.5 inch

€445

Design, The Promise - Grey, Kaws

Design . 35 x 16 x 25 cm Design . 13.8 x 6.3 x 9.8 inch

€2,642

Print, Blame Game II, Kaws

Print . 89 x 58.5 x 0.1 cm Print . 35 x 23 x 0 inch

€12,800

Design, Franken Berry (Black), Kaws

Design . 29 x 16 x 12.7 cm Design . 11.4 x 6.3 x 5 inch

€550

Print, Ups and Downs, Kaws

Print . 177.8 x 292.1 x 1 cm Print . 70 x 115 x 0.4 inch

€143,297

Design, Holiday Thailand (Black), Kaws

Design . 28 x 15 x 15 cm Design . 11 x 5.9 x 5.9 inch

€1,490

Design, Chum Rose, Kaws

Design . 30 x 20 x 9 cm Design . 11.8 x 7.9 x 3.5 inch

€800

Design, Kaws for Quatar Museums, Kaws

Design . 23 x 23 x 3 cm Design . 9.1 x 9.1 x 1.2 inch

€800

Design, Along the Way, grey, Kaws

Design . 27 x 23 x 13 cm Design . 10.6 x 9.1 x 5.1 inch

€1,702

Design, Kaws x be@rbrick  bwwt 400%, Kaws

Design . 27.3 x 13 x 9 cm Design . 10.7 x 5.1 x 3.5 inch

€12,900

Design, Holiday UK (Set of 3), Kaws

Design . 30 x 8 x 8 cm Design . 11.8 x 3.1 x 3.1 inch

€2,100

Design, The Promise - Black, Kaws

Design . 33 x 15.24 x 22.86 cm Design . 13 x 6 x 9 inch

€1,100

Design, Holiday thailand - Brown, Kaws

Design . 28 x 15 x 17 cm Design . 11 x 5.9 x 6.7 inch

€1,490

Design, Kaws x Star Wars Boba Fett, Kaws

Design . 26 x 12 x 10 cm Design . 10.2 x 4.7 x 3.9 inch

€7,860

Design, Count Chocula (Black), Kaws

Design . 29 x 16 x 12.7 cm Design . 11.4 x 6.3 x 5 inch

€550

Design, Small lie grey, Kaws

Design . 28 x 5 x 5 cm Design . 11 x 2 x 2 inch

€700

Design, Holiday Space Figure Silver, Kaws

Design . 29 x 12 x 12 cm Design . 11.4 x 4.7 x 4.7 inch

€2,239

Design, Kaws Bendy (Red), Kaws

Design . 35.6 x 7.6 x 3.8 cm Design . 14 x 3 x 1.5 inch

€2,080

Design, Kaws Bendy (Green), Kaws

Design . 35.6 x 7.6 x 3.8 cm Design . 14 x 3 x 1.5 inch

€2,080

Design, Astro Boy, Kaws

Design . 37.5 x 15.2 x 11.4 cm Design . 14.8 x 6 x 4.5 inch

€4,860

Design, 400% Mad Hectic Kubrick, Kaws

Design . 25 x 17 x 9 cm Design . 9.8 x 6.7 x 3.5 inch

€3,080

Design, Small Lie Grey, Kaws

Design . 28 x 4.5 x 5.5 cm Design . 11 x 1.8 x 2.2 inch

€800

Design, Kaws: Holiday Shanghai (Grey), Kaws

Design . 28 x 14 x 8 cm Design . 11 x 5.5 x 3.1 inch

€650

Recommended by Artsper
Design, Chum Jaune, Kaws

Design . 30 x 20 x 9 cm Design . 11.8 x 7.9 x 3.5 inch

€800

Design, The Promise - Brown, Kaws

Design . 33 x 15.24 x 22.86 cm Design . 13 x 6 x 9 inch

€1,100

1/3