Kaws

Brian Donnelly (b. November 4, 1974), professionally known as Kaws (stylized as KAWS), is an American artist and designer renowned for his recurring use of figurative characters and motifs that span back to the early stages of his career in the 1990s. Initially depicted in two-dimensional forms, his iconic characters later evolved into three-dimensional sculptures. Some of these characters are Kaws’s original creations, while others are reinterpretations of recognizable cultural icons.

Kaws’s sculptures vary significantly in size, from small pieces only a few inches in height to monumental works that stand over ten meters tall. These sculptures are crafted from a diverse array of materials, including fiberglass, aluminum, wood, bronze, and even an inflatable raft mounted on a steel pontoon.

The artist draws inspiration from traditional high-art painters such as Gerhard Richter, Claes Oldenburg, and Chuck Close. His work has often been likened to that of Andy Warhol due to his ability to appeal across markets and blur the boundaries between commercial and fine art. Kaws’s creations are exhibited internationally in prominent galleries and museums, held in permanent collections of public institutions, and avidly collected by a range of private individuals, including producer Swizz Beatz, internet personality PewDiePie, musicians Pharrell Williams and Kid Cudi, and members of the South Korean music group BTS. Additionally, multiple publications have been dedicated to documenting his work.

Residing and working in Brooklyn, New York, Kaws continues to create sculptures, acrylic paintings on canvas, and screen prints. His commercial collaborations span limited-edition toys, clothing, skateboard decks, and other products. KAWS is represented by the Skarstedt Gallery in New York.