Kaws

Kaws

United States • 1974 • 1707 followers
Featured in: Famous Artists

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, Kaws Bendy (Red), Kaws

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

CHF 2,021

Design, Kaws Bendy (Green), Kaws

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

CHF 2,021

Design, Chum Yellow, Kaws

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

CHF 729

Design, Chum Orange, Kaws

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

CHF 729

Design, Chum Pink, Kaws

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

CHF 729

Design, 400% Mad Hectic Kubrick, Kaws

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

CHF 2,779

Design, Astro Boy, Kaws

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

CHF 4,722

Design, Small Lie Black, Kaws

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

CHF 680

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

CHF 12,533

Design, Holiday United Kingdom, Kaws

Design . 43 x 13 x 5 cm Design . 16.9 x 5.1 x 2 inch

CHF 3,452

Design, Small lie brown, Kaws

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

CHF 680

Design, Astro Boy (Grey), Kaws

Design . 40 x 17 x 10 cm Design . 15.7 x 6.7 x 3.9 inch

CHF 8,931

Design, Small lie black, Kaws

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

CHF 680

Print, Time Off, Kaws

Print . 40.6 x 53.3 cm Print . 16 x 21 inch

CHF 8,622

Private collection
Print, What Party (Pink), Kaws

Print . 55.9 x 55.9 cm Print . 22 x 22 inch

Sold

Print, Urge No. 1, Kaws

Print . 43.2 x 32.4 cm Print . 17 x 12.75 inch

Sold

Recommended by Artsper
Fine Art Drawings, New fiction, Kaws

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 40 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

Sold

Print, NVG Gone, Kaws

Print . 43 x 34 cm Print . 16.9 x 13.4 inch

Sold

Recommended by Artsper
Print, Snoopy (Untitled), Kaws

Print . 22.9 x 25.4 cm Print . 9 x 10 inch

Sold

Print, No reply, Kaws

Print . 88.3 x 58.4 x 0.1 cm Print . 34.8 x 23 x 0 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Along The Way Grey, Kaws

Sculpture . 26.7 x 22.9 x 10.2 cm Sculpture . 10.5 x 9 x 4 inch

Sold

Design, Kachamukku, Kaws

Design . 32 x 20 x 15 cm Design . 12.6 x 7.9 x 5.9 inch

Sold

Print, Kawsbob (black), Kaws

Print . 50.8 x 50.8 cm Print . 20 x 20 inch

Sold

Print, Kawsbob, Kaws

Print . 51 x 51 cm Print . 20.1 x 20.1 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Along The Way Grey, Kaws

Sculpture . 26.7 x 22.9 x 10.2 cm Sculpture . 10.5 x 9 x 4 inch

Sold

Recommended by Artsper
Print, Tension No. 2, Kaws

Print . 88.9 x 58.42 x 2 cm Print . 35 x 23 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Design, Moon Shanghai Grey (Neuf), Kaws

Design . 15 x 24 x 13 cm Design . 5.9 x 9.4 x 5.1 inch

Sold

Print, Presenting the Past, Kaws

Print . 81.3 x 81.3 cm Print . 32 x 32 inch

Sold

Print, Urge, Kaws

Print . 43.2 x 31.8 x 2.5 cm Print . 17 x 12.5 x 1 inch

Sold

Recommended by Artsper
Sculpture, Along The Way Brown, Kaws

Sculpture . 26.7 x 22.9 x 10.2 cm Sculpture . 10.5 x 9 x 4 inch

Sold

Design, BFF Pink, Kaws

Design . 35.1 x 14 x 8.3 cm Design . 13.8 x 5.5 x 3.3 inch

Sold

Recommended by Artsper
Design, Moon, Kaws

Design . 24 x 14 x 8 cm Design . 9.4 x 5.5 x 3.1 inch

Sold

Design, The Promise Black, Kaws

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

Sold

Design, What Party Yellow, Kaws

Design . 29 x 13 x 10 cm Design . 11.4 x 5.1 x 3.9 inch

Sold

Design, What party Orange, Kaws

Design . 29 x 13 x 10 cm Design . 11.4 x 5.1 x 3.9 inch

Sold

Print, Urge, Kaws

Print . 43.2 x 31.8 cm Print . 17 x 12.5 inch

Sold

Design, Holiday Shanghai (Grey), Kaws

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

Sold

Print, Tension No. 6, Kaws

Print . 88.9 x 58.42 x 2 cm Print . 35 x 23 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Design, Small Lie - Black, Kaws

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

Sold

Design, Pink Kaws Family, Kaws

Design . 34 x 15 x 14.5 cm Design . 13.4 x 5.9 x 5.7 inch

Sold

Design, Small Lie - Brown, Kaws

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

Sold

Print, The News, Kaws

Print . 61 x 61 cm Print . 24 x 24 inch

Sold

Print, Tension No. 3, Kaws

Print . 88.9 x 58.42 x 2 cm Print . 35 x 23 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Design, Chum Orange, Kaws

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

Sold

Sculpture, BFF Black Plush, Kaws

Sculpture . 48 x 20 x 10 cm Sculpture . 18.9 x 7.9 x 3.9 inch

Sold

Design, Chum Noir, Kaws

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

Sold

Print, Urge, Kaws

Print . 43.2 x 31.8 x 2.5 cm Print . 17 x 12.5 x 1 inch

Sold

Design, The Promise Brown, Kaws

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

Sold

Recommended by Artsper
Design, Small Lie - Grey, Kaws

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

Sold

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