KAWS

Who is KAWS?

KAWS is the professional name of Brian Donnelly, an American artist born in 1974 in Jersey City, New Jersey. He studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York and worked in animation. In the early 1990s, graffiti and reinterpreted advertising images shaped his practice: familiar urban imagery acquired new faces and distinctive crosses.

This graphic language later developed into painting, sculpture and collectible art toys. For KAWS, a character can exist as a small figure or a monumental work in public space. A change of scale preserves the recognisable image while changing the experience of encountering it.

COMPANION, BFF and CHUM

COMPANION is one of KAWS’s best-known characters: rounded ears, a skull-like head and cross-shaped eyes make it recognisable even in a simple silhouette. BFF has a fur-like surface, while CHUM has a substantial body made of rounded segments. These are distinct characters around which the artist builds compositions and series.

Poses and interactions bring themes of closeness, solitude and support to their playful appearance. In GONE, one character carries another. A monumental bronze version formed part of KAWS: Companionship in the Age of Loneliness at the National Gallery of Victoria. KAWS: WHAT PARTY at Brooklyn Museum also demonstrated the breadth of his practice, from early drawings to paintings, collectible objects and large sculptures.

What is in the ArtComburo catalogue?

The selection includes FAMILY, FELLOWS, GONE, TIME OFF and THE PROMISE, alongside CHUM and WHAT PARTY. HOLIDAY appears in different versions, including SPACE, INDONESIA, SINGAPORE and CHANGBAI MOUNTAIN. Compare them by character, pose, colour and format.

The catalogue goes beyond figures: it includes the BIG MOON lamp, large-format TENSION, TOKYO FIRST and Sesame Street keychains, and KAWS × UNIQLO clothing. Collaborations show how the artist carries his imagery into everyday objects. His work with UNIQLO and Sesame Street is documented from 2018; check each product card for the specific edition.

Choosing a KAWS work

Begin with a character and mood that resonate with you. A single figure can start a collection, while a composition with several characters offers a comparison of different images. When choosing a gift for a contemporary-art enthusiast, consider their favourite series and format. Product cards provide photographs, dimensions, prices and current availability.

Compare GONE works, the TIME OFF series and CHUM figures. Follow the artist’s new projects on the official KAWS website.

A KAWS gift or addition to a collection

For a gift, compare the composition as well as its colours. FAMILY can be read as an image of closeness between characters, making it a relevant direction for someone drawn to that theme. If the recipient already collects KAWS, check the series and version to avoid a duplicate. Edition size and included items should be checked for the specific piece.

Space for the composition

On a shelf or console, the width and depth of the entire composition matter alongside the tallest figure’s height. Compare its palette with neighbouring works and keep the characters’ gestures visible. This helps distinguish between a single figure and a multi-character work when selecting an object for an interior.