Monday, October 12, 2009

ARTIST BIO: KAWS

KAWS has been one of the most prominent figures in the world of art and graffiti. In the past decade he went from being a graffiti artist who was bombing the streets of NY and NJ to the successful entrepreneur that he is today. He has recently opened up OriginalFake, which is a collaborative project with Medicom Toy out in Japan. He has turned his famous logos and art from his past days as a graffiti writer into a corporate logo for his business. He produces everything from vinyl figures to clothing to skateboards to just about any other canvas he can put his icons on. Here are some of the famous works he has produced in his career.

KAWS 4 Foot Companion - This is the staple KAWS symbol. This character is basically an original KAWS design head that's on top of a Mickey Mouse body. This one is REAL expensive with a retail price of $6000 and limited to only 100 pieces.


KAWS Darth Vader - Only 1000 of these figures were made, originally costing $150 at OriginalFake in Tokyo. Resell value - upwards of $500. This is an official Star Wars licensed product.


KAWS Spongebob - KAWS unveiled this piece at his gallery exhibitio in NYC last year. This is KAWS taking a stab at modern pop culture with his rendition of everyone's favorite sponge.


KAWS Kimpsons - KAWS x The Simpsons. The Simpsons were the first cartoon to get the KAWS treatment.


KAWS Companion Dissected - With this vinyl figure you get to see the inner working of the famous companion figure.


Some original KAWS graffiti dating back to 97. As you can that's the original design of his Companion figure.


KAWS wildstyle piece on a Captain Morgan billboard from 1995.


KAWS van in Williamsburg, BK circa 2005


OriginalFake x Levi - This collaboration with KAWS' clothing brand OriginalFake and Levi's was released in super limited quantities. KAWS uses his Chomper graphic in this project.


KAWS Chum - This character, who resembles the Michelin Tire man, is plastered over a regular bus stop. KAWS used to not only use spray paint back in the day, but he would also go around putting his famous characters over billboards and regular street signs. Little did he know that his graffiti at the time would later be showcased in art galleries around the world.


KAWS - The man himself Brian Donnelly.



-TONY

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