Interesting Facts About KAWS
Street style is becoming one of the most prevalent art forms these days. Street art is blending with contemporary art and is flourishing into a new genre altogether. It is a genuinely unhinged form, and the artists can go above and beyond the traditional boundaries of norms and express themselves freely. They make the world their canvas and paint, spray, or sculpt it per their vision and beliefs to communicate their point.
An artist that goes by the anime Banksy is gaining popularity nowadays owing to his exceptional artworks and murals. Not only does the artist make artwork, but he is also involved in making toys, and clothing, for his trademark fictional character.
Likewise, KAWS has a very individualistic style and caters to internet enthusiasts and people who closely follow pop culture. The artist Brain Donnelly conceptualized the idea of the character back when he was in his late teens and started tagging the streets of New York to take this idea to a multi-million business.
Below are some exciting things you might not have known about the artist.
He started as a graffiti artist
There have been many street artists that have started their careers in New York City. In his initial days, Donnelly used to tag phone booths, billboards, and the walls of New York. After graduating with a degree in Bachelor of Fine Arts, he started working for Disney as an animator.
A man of many collaborations
The best part about his art is that he is open to collaborations with the right people or brands. This has enabled his art to venture into various niches. For instance, in the 90s, Donnelly earned the trust of brands like Calvin Klein, Dior, Diesel, and Chanel for collaborations. The artist collaborated with DIOR in 2019 to create a stuffed polyester toy wearing a Dior suit. At an auction, the figurine was sold for $9375.
His art is influenced by pop culture
When you first look at the popular character, Kaws, made by the artist, you will realize that it resembles Mickey Mouse because it has a round belly, similar ears, and the same body type.
Besides the main character, all the other paintings and figurines are often based on pop culture references. Some of the famous artworks have a reference to Hello Kitty, Sesame Street, and the Simpsons.
Use of social media platforms
There is a lot of hype around whatever the artist does, which can be attributed to social media and other channels to market the art. The artist realized the power of the media and has created a loyal fan following with whom he often shares his upcoming collections and launches.
There is no meaning to the name
Brian is professionally known as KAWS, but you will be surprised to know that it does not mean anything. As the artist, he chose the name because the letters look aesthetic together. So, the name has no underlying meaning like that of other artists.
These are some things you might not have known about Brian Donnelly. The artist slowly paved the way for other contemporary street artists with his unique style and approach.