Kaws

Kaws

United States • 1974 • 1707 followers

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

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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 (126)

Design, The Promise Grey, Kaws

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

CHF 1,468

Design, Flayed Red, Kaws

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

CHF 887

Design, Display Dior, Kaws

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

CHF 4,435

Sculpture, Companion - Set of 6, Kaws

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

CHF 6,898

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

CHF 1,084

Design, Holiday Singapore Black, Kaws

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

CHF 838

Design, Share companion, Kaws

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

CHF 2,464

Design, Kaws Holiday Thailand Brown, Kaws

Design . 28 x 6 x 9 cm Design . 11 x 2.4 x 3.5 inch

CHF 1,468

Print, Companion vs Astroboy, Kaws

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

CHF 10,644

Design, Chum Blanc, Kaws

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

CHF 788

Design, The Promise - Grey, Kaws

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

CHF 1,084

Print, Warm Regards - Artist Proof, Kaws

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

CHF 11,734

Design, Along the Way, grey, Kaws

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

CHF 1,651

Design, BFF Beach Towel, Kaws

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

CHF 1,494

Design, Holiday Taipei (Brown), Kaws

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

CHF 1,084

Design, 3 figurines Small lie, Kaws

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

CHF 1,971

Design, Kaws Holiday Thailand Black, Kaws

Design . 28 x 6 x 9 cm Design . 11 x 2.4 x 3.5 inch

CHF 1,468

Design, Chum Rose, Kaws

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

CHF 788

Print, Blame Game II, Kaws

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

CHF 12,615

Design, Holiday Thailand (Black), Kaws

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

CHF 1,468

Print, Ups and Downs, Kaws

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

CHF 139,064

Design, Holiday Plush Hong Kong Grey, Kaws

Design . 51 x 51 x 10 cm Design . 20.1 x 20.1 x 3.9 inch

CHF 591

Design, Franken Berry (Black), Kaws

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

CHF 542

Design, The Promise - Grey, Kaws

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

CHF 2,564

Design, Kaws for Quatar Museums, Kaws

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

CHF 788

Design, Holiday thailand - Brown, Kaws

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

CHF 1,468

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

CHF 7,746

Design, Holiday Thailand (Grey), Kaws

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

CHF 976

Design, Count Chocula (Black), Kaws

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

CHF 542

Design, Holiday UK (Set of 3), Kaws

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

CHF 2,070

Design, Small Lie Grey, Kaws

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

CHF 788

Design, Chum Jaune, Kaws

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

CHF 788

Design, What Party Pink, Kaws

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

CHF 439

Design, Frute Brute (Black), Kaws

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

CHF 542

Design, Holiday Shanghai (Black), Kaws

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

CHF 1,567

Design, Boo Berry (Black), Kaws

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

CHF 542

Design, The Promise - Brown, Kaws

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

CHF 1,084

Design, The Promise - Black, Kaws

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

CHF 1,084

Design, Small Lie Brown, Kaws

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

CHF 690

Design, Holiday Space Figure Silver, Kaws

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

CHF 2,173

Design, Small lie grey, Kaws

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

CHF 690

Design, Chul-Su (Monotone), Kaws

Design . 38 x 12.7 x 12.7 cm Design . 15 x 5 x 5 inch

CHF 739

Design, Kaws Bendy (Red), Kaws

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

CHF 2,050

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