KAWS

KAWS in the name under which Brooklyn-based blue-chip artist Brian Donnelly creates his artwork, giving away something of the playful style of his Pop Art Paintings and Sculptures. Best known for his Companion and Chum figurines, which are the favourite collectibles of contemporary art collectors, KAWS as amassed something that is nothing short of a cult following, much like Takashi Murakami. He is, a master of the art of marketing contemporary art.

KAWS started out as a graffiti artist, and this influence is clear to see throughout his work that features bold colours, popular culture references and stylised cartoons. These pieces are a reimagining of the consumer culture and imagery that surround us, reworking them into thought-provoking works of art. The wide appeal of his style has earned him plenty of attention on Instagram.

KAWS CAREER PATH

After graduating from the School of Visual Arts in New York, KAWS went on to work in animation. He then branched out and became a graffiti artist in the 1990s, creating satirical pieces that reworked the prevalent advertising culture he saw around him. His distinctive style soon attracted attention, not least for his reinterpretation of the characters Sponge Bob and Mickey Mouse.

Since then, he has gone on to create a wide variety of art, ranging from Prints to Sculpture. This Cartoon Art has been featured in exhibitions across Europe, America and Asia, where he rose to popularity thanks to collaborations with Japanese toy designers.

COLLECTIONS AND COLLABORATIONS FEATURING KAWS ART

Over the years, KAWS has broadened his artistic scope by exploring various media, including painting, sculpture and toy design. His canvases, often characterized by vivid colors and expressive faces, reflect an aesthetic that is both playful and provocative.

You’ll find the work of KAWS among notable art collections from around the world, including the Rosenblum Collection in Paris, the High Museum in Atlanta and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. What’s more, he’s worked together with brands like Uniqlo and Dior, as well as with Pharrell Williams for a perfume bottle design. He’s also collaborated with big-name brands such as The North Face and Vans.

Air Jordan 4 Retro Cool Grey x KAWS

In March 2017, KAWS launched one of his most lucrative collaborations yet, one with Nike Air Jordan. This shoe, however, was the crossroads between streetwear and Air Jordan culture. After closing his streetwear brand OriginalFake in 2013, KAWS set out on a new journey to reintegrate his name into street culture. The original retail price of these shoes were $350 but their trading price is now over $7,000 a pair thanks to the Air Jordan name and the hypebeast culture surrounding anything KAWS touches.

KAWS AND HYPEBEAST CULTURE

In pop culture, the term "hypebeast" refers to someone who has their finger on the pulse of all things trending. Their main goal in acquiring and collecting art or luxury goods is not because it fits their personal taste, rather, it's to show their social status. KAWS has a cult of hypebeast followers who snap up his new releases at every single drop. These hypebeasts propel his work in an almost obsessive manner. For them, it's not about the figure itself but what the figure represents.

HOW TO ACQUIRE A KAWS FIGURINE

It can be difficult to get your hands on certain editions of KAWS collectibles, Companion figurines, Chum toys prints or sculptures. These limited edition series are usually on the primary market for a very short period of time before being completely sold out. They are then moved to the secondary contemporary art market and sold through galleries like Rise Art or private art dealers.

KAWS artworks are released on the artist's website through drops. Once a drop is announced, it usually has a waiting list to sign up, just to access the sale. If someone wishes to acquire a rare KAWS collectible, they difficulty usually comes in finding the one they want and accessing it in order to purchase, rather than price. The price of of these works can go into the millions, depending on the year it was released and if it was a special collaboration. Some of his rarest pieces are the KAWS x Medicom Toy 'Dissected Companion' and the KAWS x Medicom Toy Bearbrick 'Dissected' 1000% and his KAWS Astroboy figurine.

While KAWS work might be seeking to make his work accessible to all in the same way that Andy Warhol did or that Damien Hirst does. In the end, his work is still highly sought-after because of the buzz surrounding his figures, their rarity, his designer collaborations, and of course, the hypebeasts themselves.

COLLECT KAWS STATUES AND FIGURINES

On Rise Art, you can find a selection of KAWS art, such as KAWS prints and figurines. With statues from his limited edition series that came of fruitful collaborations to his Companion and Chum drawings, there is something here for any future hypebeast or KAWS collector.