This first solo museum exhibition of the work of well-known artist and designer KAWS will include his most recent paintings, sculptures, and drawings, as well as a survey of apparel, product and graphic designs, and limited-edition toys. Originating at the crossroads of art, design, popular culture, and street savvy, KAWS’s output is quite unique.
By playing off the different disciplines–namely street art, design, high art–and using each as an element in the other, the artist is revolutionizing the art world and widening the straightforward definitions of “high art.” With wit, irreverence, and even affection, KAWS takes infamous iconic entertainment characters and subversively reinterprets their appearances and personalities. He also creates his own cartoon characters of serpentine physical forms with signature X-ed out eyes. These highly charged characters, recognizable by and accessible to everyone, are cute and humorous artworks that ultimately both serve and criticize contemporary consumer culture.
