If Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons were the pioneers of “pop art” in the 21st century, then artist KAWS is the ones who reinterpreted and modernized it. He literally embodied the idea of “art as product”.
Brian Donnelly, aka KAWS, studied illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York. Before he achieved success as an artist he worked for Disney company and this experience is clearly visible in his personal work.
He started out as a graffiti artist in the mid-90s. Brian drew a cartoon skull with crosses instead of eyes on models from outdoor advertising posters. This is how he expressed his personal attitude toward the ad industry. Behind his urban art were very important meanings that he wanted to convey to people. First of all, the models’ faces are worthless. Replacing their faces with anything it will still be the same clothing ad. This proves the interchangeability of people in this business. Second, all visual ad is built on creepy pathos. Brian mocked the “stone” faces of the models. The image of the skull with bones emphasizes lifelessness this industry. He wanted to change that, and at the same time to change the importance of brands in peoples’s eyes. The big companies could have sued him, but instead they offered him cooperation.
Bendy is a nimble creature that resembles s a brightly coloured spermatozoon or worm. KAWS’ most simple character, was created in late 90s.
Around the same time as Companion, Chum came onto the world of KAWS. He became instantly recognisable for appropriating the adorable plump body of Michelin Man, a tyre brand logo developed in the 19th century.
It’s a lanky bunny rabbit with bib, boots and gloves. His cutie appearance contrasts with the stern expression on his face. The Accomplice exist in pink, black and grey colors.
In 2016, KAWS introduced a new character: a bright blue creature, reminiscent of Elmo from Sesame Street, named BFF. Like Companion character, BFF has crosses eyes, gloved hands and head with two bones sticking out of it, but a furry appearance. It was something new for KAWS’ audience.
Today, KAWS is in incredible demand as an artist and as a designer. In 2019 at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong a painting by Kaws “The Kaws Album (2005)” sold for more than $14 million dollars. It was a new auction record for the Brian at the time.
Brian’s work is held in the collections of various museums: Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Brooklyn Museum, One Campus Martius, and Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.
Among all his collaborations we can mention some of the significant ones: the cover of the Kanye West album “808s & Heartbreak”, the design of the statuette for the 2013 mtv music awards, various collaborations with clothing brands: Dior, The North Face, Supreme, Comme des Garçons, Uniqlo, the design of Nike sneakers.
The list of celebrities who collect KAWS is also extensive: Pharrell Williams, Drake, Kylie Jenner, Justin Bieber, Travis Scott, DJ Khaled and many others.
Brian’s street background attracted the attention of a diverse audience, many of whom had nothing to do with the art world. His popularity became so great that his work interested collectors from all over the world.