About KAWS

KAWS (Brian Donnelly, born 1974 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is an American contemporary artist celebrated for his distinctive visual language that bridges fine art, street art, and popular culture. Working across painting, sculpture, printmaking, and design, KAWS has created a globally recognizable aesthetic characterized by his signature "XX" eyes, cartoon-like figures, and appropriations of iconic characters. His artworks blur the boundaries between high and low culture, making contemporary art accessible to diverse audiences worldwide.

KAWS began his career in the 1990s as a graffiti artist in New York City, where he developed his tag and started subverting advertisements by inserting his characters into billboards and bus shelters. This early practice of cultural intervention evolved into a multifaceted artistic career that includes large-scale sculptures, paintings, and highly sought-after limited edition prints. His recurring characters—including Companion, Chum, and BFF—have become cultural icons, appearing in museums, public spaces, and collaborations with major brands.

Printmaking and edition-making are central to KAWS' practice. His limited edition prints, screenprints, and signed editions translate his bold graphic style into highly collectible formats, making his artworks accessible to collectors worldwide. These fine art prints capture the same visual impact and cultural commentary as his larger paintings and sculptures, featuring his signature color palettes and character-driven compositions. His prints are among the most sought-after contemporary editions, bridging the gap between street art and fine art collecting.

Throughout his career, KAWS has remained committed to democratizing art through accessible imagery and wide distribution. His artworks continue to resonate across generations and cultures, securing his position as one of the most influential contemporary artists whose paintings, sculptures, and prints redefine the relationship between art, commerce, and popular culture.

Notable exhibitions

KAWS has been the subject of major solo exhibitions at leading institutions worldwide, including KAWS: WHERE THE END STARTS at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (2016), which later traveled to the Yuz Museum in Shanghai. His monumental retrospective KAWS: COMPANIONSHIP IN THE AGE OF LONELINESS opened at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne (2019) and later traveled to multiple venues, establishing his position within contemporary art discourse.

Additional landmark exhibitions include KAWS: ALONG THE WAY at the Brooklyn Museum (2021), which presented a comprehensive survey of his paintings, sculptures, and works on paper, and KAWS: WHAT PARTY at the Brooklyn Museum (2021). His artworks have also been featured at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in the United Kingdom, the Qatar Museums in Doha, and the Serpentine Galleries in London.

KAWS has created monumental public sculptures installed in locations including Hong Kong, Seoul, and New York City, bringing his distinctive characters to international audiences. His artworks—including his highly collectible limited edition prints, screenprints, and signed editions—are held in major collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., affirming his influence on contemporary art and popular culture.