Brooklyn-based KAWS is considered one of the most relevant artists of his generation. He was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and received his BFA from the School of Visual Arts, New York. His influential work engages people across the generations with contemporary art and especially opens popular culture to young and diverse audiences.
KAWS has had solo exhibitions at institutions including Yuz Museum, Shanghai, China; Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, USA; Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX; Galerie Perrotin, Seoul, South Korea; and Yorkshire Sculpture Park, UK. His work has been shown in the public realm, including the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam; Frieze Sculpture Park, London; and Hong Kong’s Harbour City. KAWS has collaborated with international brands including Comme des Garcons, Nike, Lucas Films, and MTV, for whom he created a huge inflatable version of the iconic Moonman for the 2013 Video Music Awards. He also created cover artwork for the October 2015 Art Issue of W Magazine (with Drake) and for Kanye West’s 2008 album, 808s and Heartbreak. In addition to clothing and other items, he has made limited edition vinyl toys since the late 1990s, including with Japanese company Medicom Toy and his own company OriginalFake.