KAWS
(Brian Donnelly)

Born in 1974 in Jersey City (USA)
Live in Brooklyn (USA)

Biography of Kaws

Brian Donnelly a.k.a Kaws was born in 1974 in Jersey City (USA). He began painting on walls and trains in the early 1990s in New York. His made his work different from others by diverting advertising posters on bus stops and telephone booths, and adding small characters : “skully” the pirate skull with crossbones shortened to form ears, or “bendy” the extended head of a snake body wrapped around the person featured in the advertising poster. In 1996, he obtained a degree in Fine Arts from the New York School of Visual Arts. He then began working as a freelance artist for Disney, creating animated backgrounds. His accomplishments as an artist met a real success, and he started travelling to Paris, London, Germany, Japan.
In 1998, he was the winner of the Pernod Liquid Art Award. In 1999, he made his first Mickey Mouse-inspired art toy in Tokyo, and it sold very well. He then started again with Chum, a caricature of Bibendum. Later, he met and worked with Nigo, who founded the A Bathing Ape brand, who helped him open its first store in Tokyo, Original Fake, where he sold tee shirts, shoes, and other derivatives related to his universe. Meanwhile, he made ​​a series of paintings inspired by cartoons, such as The Simpsons, Mickey, Astro Boy, Hello Kitty, and SpongeBob. Since 2000, he has participated in numerous exhibitions in the world and has worked with brands such as Marc Jacobs, Comme des Garçons, Nike, Vans, Kiehl’s … etc.

Exhibition dates of Kaws

2013
At home I´m a tourist’ Colección de Selim Varol, CAC Centro de Arte Contemporáneo Málaga (ES)

2012
Kaws, Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, Paris
Imaginary Friends, Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, Paris
Companion, The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Fort Worth (US)
The Nature of Need, Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, Paris
Kaws: Down Time, The High Museum of Art, Atlanta (US)

2011
FOCUS: KAWS, The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Fort Worth (US)
Hold The Line, Honor Fraser, Los Angeles
Kaws, Companion (passing Through), The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield (US)

2010
The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield (US)

2009
Plastic Culture, Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston, Great Britain (solo)
Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, Paris, France; traveling
Plastic Culture, Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston (UK)
Honor Fraser, Los Angeles
Just what is it that makes today’s painting so different, so appealing?, Gering & López Gallery, New York

2008
Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, Miami
Gering & López Gallery, New York (solo)

2006
Info Babble, Richard & Dolly Maass Gallery, Purchase, NY
Ugly Winners, Galerie Du Juor Agnes B., Paris

2004
Palazzo Dell’Arte, Milan
USF Contemporary Art Museum, Tampa (US)
Contemporary Museum, Baltimor (US)
Orange County Museum of Art, Newport Beach (US)
Yerba Buena Arts Center, San Francisco
Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati (US)

2003
SK8 on the Wall, Parco Gallery, Tokyo
Original Fake, BAPE Gallery, Tokyo (solo)

2002
Elms Lesters Painting Room, London, UK (solo)
Session The Bowl , Deitch Projects, New York
ALIFE Shop, Deitch Projects, New York
Coded Language, City Gallery Chastain , Atlanta (US)

2001
Shortcuts, Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre, Athènes
Pierides Museum of Contemporary Art, Athènes
New Acquisitions from the Dakis Joannou Collection , Deste Foundation, Athènes
Tokyo First , Parco Gallery, Tokyo (solo)

1999
Colette, Paris, France (solo)

Available artworks by Kaws

Works performed in the streets by Kaws

Videos of Kaws