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Brian Donnelly (born November 4, 1974), known professionally as Kaws (stylized as KAWS), is an American artist and designer. His work includes repeated use of a cast of figurative characters and motifs, some dating back to the beginning of his career in the 1990s, initially painted in 2D and later realized in 3D. Some of his characters are his own creations while others are reworked versions of existing icons.
Kaws's sculptures range in size from a few inches to ten meters tall," Pop artist KAWS' gigantic cartoon sculptures will be taking over the Yorkshire countryside". The Independent, 31 January 2016. Accessed 25 March 2017 and are made from various materials including fiberglass, aluminum, wood, bronze, and a steel pontoon inflatable raft." KAWS brings giant cartoon creations to Yorkshire Sculpture Park". Creative Review, 4 February 2016. Accessed 25 March 2017
Kaws's influences come from traditional high art painters like Gerhard Richter, Claes Oldenburg, and Chuck Close, and he has been compared to the likes of Andy Warhol for his cross-market appeal and ability to blur lines between commercial and fine art. His work is exhibited in galleries and museums, held in the permanent collections of public institutions, and avidly collected by individuals including music producer Swizz Beatz, internet figure PewDiePie, rappers Pharrell Williams, Kid Cudi, and members of South Korean group BTS. A number of books illustrating his work have been published.
Kaws lives and works in Brooklyn, New York, creating sculptures, on canvas, and while also collaborating commercially, predominantly on limited edition toys, but also clothing, , and other products. KAWS is represented by Skarstedt Gallery, New York.
Moving to New York City in the 1990s, Kaws pursued illegal graffiti. Animator by day, and graffiti artist by night, Kaws started subvertising billboards, bus shelters, and phone booths, using a skeleton key gifted to him by friend and fellow graffiti artist Barry McGee." KAWS on 'Brilliant Ideas'". Bloomberg L.P., 15 June 2016. Accessed 23 March 2017 Using a key he created for himself, he also started subvertising bus shelters. Kaws has since subvertised in Paris, London, Berlin, and Tokyo.
Kaws's Companion is a grayscale clown-like figure based on Mickey Mouse with his face obscured by both hands, and two bones sticking out of his head. In 1999, the Japanese toy company Bounty Hunter produced and sold a vinyl Companion toy (Mickey Mouse with X-ed out eyes). The figure was adapted into a balloon for the 2012 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, as part of its "Blue Sky Gallery" of balloons. Having already created oversized sculptures in the past, Kaws started to produce further sculptures of his Companion character for exhibitions in Switzerland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Málaga, London, and China.
Kaws has periodically shown both paintings and products at Colette in Paris since 1999. His work was included in the traveling exhibition Beautiful Losers, which started at the Cincinnati Contemporary Art Center and traveled throughout the US and Europe, including his then-largest museum show to date at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, GA in 2012." Kaws: Down Time". High Museum of Art. Accessed 24 March 2017
Since 2018 Espacio SOLO, Colección SOLO museum in Madrid, shows in its main hall Companion (Resting place) as part of its permanent exhibitions.
Kaws's style can be characterized by an emphasis on color and line, distinctive graphics, such as the repeated use of "x"s on the hands, nose, eyes, ears, and the appropriation of pop culture icons such as Mickey Mouse, the Michelin Man, and his characters are generally depicted in a shy or powerless pose often with their hands over their nose. In his paintings, Kaws always deconstructs his appropriation of iconic characters into shapes that produces abstract paintings.
On May 2, 2023, Kaws scored a major legal victory against a Singaporean man who he accused of counterfeiting, with others, replicas of the artist's signature "Companion" figure and other toys, skateboards, and artworks.
Kaws has also collaborated with Jun Takahashi for the brand Undercover, as a voice-over artist for Michael "Mic" Neumann's Kung Faux, and worked on projects with Burton, Vans, Supreme and DC Shoes. There are Kaws-designed small edition bottles for Dos Equis and Hennessy, rugs for Gallery 1950 and packaging for Kiehl's cosmetics. In 2004, he collaborated with Undefeated Brand on a billboard project in Los Angeles. In 2008 he collaborated with John Mayer to produce a collection of guitar picks.
In 2008, he created cover art for musicians Towa Tei, Cyndi Almouzni, Clipse ( Clipse Till The Casket Drops) and Kanye West ( 808s & Heartbreak)" Kanye West "808s & Heartbreak" album cover by KKAWS"". Hypebeast, November 2011 as well as designed Nike Air Force 1 trainers (the Nike 1World project involved 18 total designers)." Nike 1World Air Force 1 by KAWS". Hypebeast, 1 July 2008. Accessed 25 March 2017 And in March 2017, the Nike subsidiary Air Jordan released a Capsule wardrobe in collaboration with Kaws – an Air Jordan 4 model customized by Kaws, and a number of apparel pieces. He has also recently contributed a lot to the Hip Hop community with merch lines associated with artists such as Travis Scott with his April 2021 single "The Scotts" featuring Kid Cudi who has also been working closely with Brian in recent merchandise releases. With Merch ranging from KAWS collaborated artwork specially created with hand crafted clothing to vinyl and cassette covers. " [8]". StockX, 31 December 2022. Accessed 24 March 2023 i-D and Travis Scott collaborated merch. "[9]". StockX, 23 April 2020. Accessed 24 March 2023
In November/December 2010 he illustrated magazine covers for The New Yorker, Clark Magazine," KAWS x Clark Magazine Issue 45". Hypebeast, 3 November 2010. Accessed 23 March 2017 i-D and Sneeze Magazine." KAWS Fronts the 29th Issue of 'SNEEZE' Magazine Dubbed "Get Met It Pays"". Sneeze Magazine, 18 October 2016. Accessed 25 March 2017 In 2011, Kaws appeared on the Bravo reality competition series , where he was a guest judge for the Season 2 finale. "Work.Of.Art.The.Next.Great.Artist.S02E10 (Finale)," YouTube. Retrieved Jan. 28, 2021. For the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, Kaws redesigned the MTV Moonman trophy in the form of his "Companion" character," MTV Awards Will Feature a New Moonman, Just Right for Brooklyn". The New York Times, 8 July 2013. Accessed 23 March 2017 and his 3D model was used to create a 60-foot tall inflatable version." VMA's KAWS 60-Foot Moonman: How'd They Do That?". MTV News, 25 August 2013. Accessed 23 March 2017 He also redesigned various event materials. In 2014, Kaws designed the bottle artwork for the scent Girl, by Comme des Garçons and Pharrell Williams." Girl by Pharrell Williams ". Comme des Garçons. Accessed 23 March 2017
In 2016, Kaws entered into an ongoing relationship with clothing store Uniqlo to produce a line of affordable T-shirts and accessories; the first line was clothing and soft toys based on the popular children's show Sesame Street. In April 2017, Uniqlo released a line of Peanuts-themed T-shirts, accessories, and plushies designed by Kaws;" Kaws x Peanuts". Uniqlo. Accessed 28 April 2017 and in November 2018, Kaws created a second line range of Sesame Street-themed clothing and soft toys. In May 2017, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City released limited supplies of the $200 Kaws Companion action figure, resulting in the MoMA Design Store website crashing due to the unprecedented rush of traffic. In May 2018, Kaws installed two 26-foot tall Companion and BFF sculptures at a shopping complex in Changsha, China.
In October 2019, Kaws unveiled "Waiting", a sculpture in Greenpoint, Brooklyn located in front of 21 India Street. In July 2021, Kaws collaborated with Travis Scott. In October 2021, the Kaws Skeleton outfit was released in Epic Games' in collaboration with Kaws. KawsPeely, a second outfit based on the character Peely, was released in July 2022. In July 2022, Kaws collaborated with J-Hope, one of the members of BTS, for his solo album cover. The 2022 release of General Mills' Monster Cereals features box art by Kaws. In April 2023, KAWS collaborated with the Brooklyn Nets to release their 2023/24 City Edition Jerseys for the upcoming NBA season. In July 2025, KAWS reunited with Clipse, designing their Let God Sort Em Out album cover.
On April 1, 2019, at Sotheby's in Hong Kong, The Kaws Album (2005), a painting by Kaws commissioned by Nigo, sold for 115.9 million Hong Kong dollars, or about $14.7 million U.S. dollars, a new auction record for the artist at the time. Kaws Auction Record $14.7 Million. Artnews, Annie Armstrong, 1 April 2019. Accessed 12 May 2019
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