Artists: KAWS

KAWS (b. 1974, Jersey City, New Jersey; lives and works in Brooklyn, New York) engages audiences beyond the museums and galleries in which he regularly exhibits. His prolific body of work straddles the worlds of art and design to include paintings, murals, graphic and product design, street art, and large-scale sculptures. Over the last two decades KAWS has built a successful career with work that consistently shows his formal agility as an artist, as well as his underlying wit, irreverence, and affection for our times. His refined graphic language revitalizes figuration with both big, bold gestures and playful intricacies.

KAWS often appropriates and draws inspiration from pop culture animations, forming a unique artistic vocabulary across mediums. Admired for his larger-than-life sculptures and hardedge paintings that emphasize line and color, KAWS’ cast of hybrid cartoon characters are the strongest examples of his exploration of humanity. As seen in his collaborations with global brands, KAWS’ imagery possesses a sophisticated humor and reveals a thoughtful interplay with consumer products. With their broad appeal, KAWS’ artworks are highly sought-after by collectors inside and outside of the art world, establishing him as a uniquely prominent artist and influence in today’s culture.

KAWS - CLEAN SLATE, GREY & BLACK 

Printed with the artist's name, date, fabricator and title painted vinyl in original packaging

2 x Sculpture Painted Cast Vinyl

Size: 36.2 x 17.8 x 17.8 cm; 14 ¼ x 7 x 7 in. (each)

Executed in: 2018

Edition: Open Edition by Medicom Toy, China.

Private Collection, Italy
Christie's France

KAWS - PERMANENT THIRTY THREE

Executed in 2008, this work is from a series of 33 unique colours.

Painted Bronze

Size: 26.5 by 19 by 26.5 cm. 10⅜ by 7½ by 10⅜ in

Executed in: 2008

Edition: This work is from a series of 33 unique colours.

Honor Fraser Gallery, Los Angeles
SBI Art Auction Co., Ltd., Harajuku, 26 October 2019, Lot 162
Sotheby's Hong Kong

Literature

Monica Ramirez-Montagut, KAWS: 1993 - 2010, New York 2010, pp. 156-7, illustrated in colour (another colour)

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