Kaws facts for kids

Brian Donnelly, known professionally as KAWS (pronounced "caws"), is a famous American artist and designer. He was born on November 4, 1974. KAWS is known for his unique characters and designs that appear in many of his artworks. These characters started as 2D drawings in the 1990s and later became amazing 3D sculptures.

His sculptures can be tiny, just a few inches tall, or huge, reaching up to ten meters (about 33 feet) high! He uses many different materials like fiberglass, wood, and even bronze to create them.

KAWS is often compared to Andy Warhol because his art is popular in both the art world and with everyday products. His work is shown in art galleries and museums around the world. Many famous people, like musicians Pharrell Williams and members of BTS, collect his art.

KAWS lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. He creates paintings, sculptures, and prints. He also works with companies to make cool products like limited edition toys, clothing, and skateboard decks.

KAWS's Early Life and Art Journey

Brian Donnelly was born in 1974 in Jersey City, New Jersey. When he was a teenager, he came up with the name "KAWS." He liked how the letters looked together. He even painted his new name on a building roof near his high school so he could see it from class!

After high school, KAWS studied illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He graduated in 1996. For a short time, he worked as an animator. He painted backgrounds for popular cartoons like 101 Dalmatians, Daria, and Doug.

In the 1990s, KAWS moved to New York City. He started creating art in public spaces. He would change advertisements on billboards, bus stops, and phone booths. He did this in cities like Paris, London, Berlin, and Tokyo, adding his unique artistic touch.

KAWS's Famous Characters and Art Style

KAWS's At This Time sculpture, featuring his Companion character, at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club.

KAWS creates paintings and sculptures with characters that appear again and again. These characters are meant to be understood by everyone. Some of his most famous characters, like Companion, Accomplice, Chum, and Bendy, have been around since the 1990s. He also made a series called The Kimpsons, which was his artistic take on The Simpsons cartoon.

His character Companion is a gray, clown-like figure. It looks a bit like Mickey Mouse but has "X" marks over its eyes and two bones sticking out of its head. In 1999, a Japanese toy company made a vinyl Companion toy. This character even became a giant balloon in the 2012 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! KAWS has created huge Companion sculptures for art shows all over the world, including Switzerland, Hong Kong, and London.

KAWS's art style uses bright colors and strong lines. He often puts "X" marks on the hands, nose, eyes, and ears of his characters. He also takes famous characters from pop culture, like Mickey Mouse or the Michelin Man, and gives them his own unique twist. His characters often look a little shy or thoughtful, sometimes with their hands covering their faces. In his paintings, he often breaks down these famous characters into abstract shapes.

Cool Collaborations and Products

KAWS is famous for working with many different brands and artists. He started making vinyl toys in 1999 with a Japanese clothing brand called Bounty Hunter. Since then, he has created toys with other companies like Medicom Toy.

He has also teamed up with popular clothing brands such as A Bathing Ape (Bape), Undercover, Vans, Supreme, and DC Shoes. KAWS has even designed special bottles for drinks and packaging for Kiehl's cosmetics.

KAWS has created amazing album covers for musicians like Kanye West, Clipse, and J-Hope from BTS. He also designed special Nike Air Force 1 sneakers and a Air Jordan collection. In 2021, he worked with rapper Travis Scott on merchandise for his music.

You might have seen his art in other places too! He designed the MTV Moonman trophy for the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. He even made a giant 60-foot inflatable version of his "Companion" character for the event.

One of his most popular collaborations is with the clothing store Uniqlo. They created affordable T-shirts and accessories. These lines included designs based on beloved shows like Sesame Street and Peanuts. In 2017, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City released a KAWS Companion action figure. It was so popular that their website crashed!

KAWS's art has even appeared in video games. In October 2021, a KAWS Skeleton outfit was released in Epic Games' Fortnite: Battle Royale. A second outfit, KAWSPeely, came out in July 2022. In 2022, he designed the box art for General Mills' Monster Cereals. In April 2023, KAWS collaborated with the Brooklyn Nets to create their special City Edition Jerseys for the NBA.

KAWS's Art Value

KAWS's artworks are very popular and can sell for a lot of money. For example, in 2017, one of his Companion sculptures sold for about $411,000. In 2019, a painting called The KAWS Album sold for about $14.7 million! This shows how much people appreciate his unique art.

Where to See KAWS's Art

You can find KAWS's art in many important museums and public places. Some of these include:

• Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth in Fort Worth, Texas
• Brooklyn Museum in Brooklyn, New York
• Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in San Diego, California

See also

In Spanish: KAWS para niños