Kaws facts for kids

Brian Donnelly (born November 4, 1974), known as Kaws, is an American artist and designer. He is famous for his unique characters and designs. Kaws started his career in the 1990s, first painting his characters in 2D. Later, he brought them to life as 3D sculptures. Some of his characters are completely new, while others are his own versions of well-known figures.

Kaws creates sculptures of many sizes, from tiny ones to huge pieces that are ten meters tall. He uses different materials like fiberglass, wood, and bronze. His art is shown in galleries and museums around the world. Many people, including famous musicians, collect his work. Kaws also makes limited edition toys, clothing, and other cool products. He lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

The Early Life of Kaws

Growing Up and Learning Art

Brian Donnelly was born in 1974 in Jersey City, New Jersey. As a teenager, he created his tag, "KAWS." This name doesn't have a special meaning; he just liked how the letters looked together. He would paint this tag on buildings, even on the roof of his high school, so he could see it from class.

After high school, Kaws went to the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He earned a degree in illustration in 1996. After graduating, he worked briefly as an animator. He painted backgrounds for popular animated shows like 101 Dalmatians, Daria, and Doug.

From Animator to Graffiti Artist

In the 1990s, Kaws moved to New York City and started doing graffiti art at night. He would change advertisements on billboards, bus shelters, and phone booths. He used a special key to open these displays. Kaws has done his unique street art in cities like Paris, London, Berlin, and Tokyo.

Kaws's Famous Artworks

KAWS's At This Time sculpture in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Kaws's paintings and sculptures often feature repeating characters. These characters are designed to be understood by everyone. Some of his most famous characters have been around since the 1990s. These include Companion, Accomplice, Chum, and Bendy. He also created a series called The Kimpsons, which was his take on The Simpsons cartoon.

The Companion Character

One of Kaws's most famous characters is Companion. This figure looks like a gray clown, similar to Mickey Mouse. Its face is covered by its hands, and it has two bones sticking out of its head. In 1999, a Japanese toy company made a vinyl Companion toy.

In 2012, a giant Companion balloon was featured in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Kaws has also created huge sculptures of his Companion character for art shows around the world. These have been displayed in places like Switzerland, Hong Kong, and London.

Kaws's Unique Style

Kaws's art style uses lots of color and strong lines. He often puts "x" marks on the hands, nose, eyes, and ears of his characters. He also uses famous pop culture figures, like Mickey Mouse and the Michelin Man, in his art. His characters often look shy or powerless, sometimes with their hands over their faces. In his paintings, Kaws breaks down these famous characters into shapes, creating abstract art.

Products and Collaborations

Kaws is well-known for working with different companies to create unique products. Since 1999, he has designed vinyl toys with Japanese brands like Bounty Hunter and Medicom Toy. He even had his own brand and store called OriginalFake in Tokyo from 2006 to 2013.

Working with Brands and Musicians

Kaws has teamed up with many popular brands. He has worked with Burton Snowboards, Vans, Supreme, and DC Shoes. He has also designed special bottles for drinks like Dos Equis and Hennessy. In 2008, he even created guitar picks for musician John Mayer.

Kaws has designed album covers for famous musicians. These include Kanye West's 808s & Heartbreak and Clipse's Till The Casket Drops. He also designed Nike Air Force 1 trainers. In 2017, Nike's Air Jordan brand released a special collection with Kaws, including a customized Air Jordan 4 shoe. More recently, he has worked with Travis Scott and Kid Cudi on merchandise for their music.

Magazine Covers and Awards

Kaws has illustrated covers for magazines like The New Yorker and i-D. In 2011, he appeared as a guest judge on the TV show Work of Art: The Next Great Artist. For the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, Kaws redesigned the famous MTV Moonman trophy. He made it look like his "Companion" character, and a huge 60-foot inflatable version was created.

Partnerships with Retailers and Games

Since 2016, Kaws has worked with the clothing store Uniqlo. They have released affordable T-shirts and accessories. These lines have featured popular characters from Sesame Street and Peanuts. In 2017, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City released limited Kaws Companion action figures, which were very popular.

In 2021, Kaws collaborated with Epic Games to release a Kaws Skeleton outfit in Fortnite: Battle Royale. A second outfit, KawsPeely, was released in 2022. In 2022, Kaws also designed the box art for General Mills' Monster Cereals. In 2023, Kaws worked with the Brooklyn Nets to design their special City Edition Jerseys for the NBA season.

Where Kaws's Art Is Kept

Kaws's artwork is part of the permanent collections in several public museums. This means his art is kept there all the time for people to see.

• Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX: They acquired his piece Where the End Starts in 2012.
• Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY: They have one piece called "Along the Way."
• Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, San Diego, CA: They have one piece.
• One Campus Martius, Detroit, MI: They have one piece called "Waiting."

See also

In Spanish: KAWS para niños