KAWS, real name Brian Donnelly, was born in New Jersey in 1974 and is now one of the world's most influential artists at the interface of street art, pop culture and commercial design. His career began in the graffiti scene in New York in the 1990s, where he became known for his so-called „subvertising“. He secretly reworked advertising posters at bus stops and in telephone boxes with his own motifs. He chose his artist name purely on the basis of visual and phonetic criteria in order to symbolically reclaim urban space from commercial advertising. A brief stint at Disney Animation Studios had a lasting impact on his later graphic style.

The centrepiece of his work is the iconic „Companion“ figure. These often melancholic characters are characterised by their striking crossed eyes, which can be seen as a kind of anti-hero to the always cheerful Mickey Mouse. What began in 1999 as a series of limited edition vinyl toy figures has developed over the decades into monumental sculptures made of materials such as bronze, aluminium, wood or fibreglass. These are installed worldwide in public spaces or in natural settings, such as the 40 metre long „Holiday“ figure at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan.

KAWS is a master at blurring the boundaries between high art and the mass market. He deconstructs well-known pop icons such as the Simpsons („The Kimpsons“), Snoopy or SpongeBob and gives them a new, often sad depth through his artistic trademarks. His collaborations with global brands such as Nike, his design for the MTV „Moonman“ and cover designs for musicians such as Kanye West have made him a global phenomenon. Today, his works are represented in major institutions such as the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and enjoy cult status in the contemporary art scene.