KAWS
New York Artist
In 2026, the first solo exhibition of KAWS in Korea, titled Friends and Neighbors, opened.
Before introducing the exhibition in detail, I thought it would be better to first share some background about the artist. I’ll cover the exhibition itself in the next post.
KAWS is an artist who has gained huge popularity among the general public.
I first discovered KAWS through art toys. I’ve always been interested in art toys, so that was how I initially encountered his work. Through various collaborations, I’ve also been able to come across his pieces in everyday life.
In Korea, you can see a large-scale installation of his iconic character Companion (Together), at Paradise City Hotel in In-cheon.
Image Source: Concrete playground
Online, I came across images from his major exhibition held in Melbourne, Australia. Even though I couldn’t visit it in person, the visuals left a strong impression on me — and that experience eventually led me to write this case study.
Before diving into the details,
I’d like to note that this post was written based on questions
I personally had about KAWS, researched through online sources. It also includes my own thoughts and opinions.
Who is KAWS?
Brian Donnell, better known worldwide as KAWS, is a New York-based artist who first gained recognition through limited-edition art toys, clothing designs, and various collaborations. His distinctive artistic style has expanded far beyond the traditional art market and into the global popular culture.
Unlike many artists whose names carry deeper meanings, KAWS has explained that there is no particular significance behind his name. He simply chose the combination of letters because it looked aesthetically pleasing.
Brian Donnelly was born in 1974 in Jersey City, New Jersey. He studied illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York and graduated in 1996. After graduation, he worked as a freelance animator for Disney, where he had the opportunity to paint backgrounds for animated series such as 101 Dalmatians, Daria, and Doug.
Graffiti Artist KAWS
Image Source: Shelflife, NGV
Brian Donnelly (KAWS) began his career as a graffiti artist while living in Jersey City. By the early 1990s, he had moved to New York and started focusing on subverting advertisements in public spaces — such as bus shelters, phone booths, and billboards — by inserting his own imagery, including early versions of the Companion character.
His graffiti work quickly gained unexpected notoriety and popularity, drawing significant public attention and marking the beginning of his rising recognition.
Image Source: jessicahk
From the 1990s onward, KAWS began creating limited-edition art toys. His works quickly gained popularity within the global art toy collecting community and helped establish him as a major figure in the genre.
He has collaborated with numerous well-known brands — including Nike, Vans, Comme des Garçons, Undercover, and Dior — designing both art toys and clothing.
A pivotal moment in his career came during a trip to Japan. While traveling in Tokyo, KAWS happened to meet Nigo, the designer of A Bathing Ape (BAPE). This chance encounter led to a collaboration, and they released goods together.
At the time, the art toy genre was already well established and popular in Japan, which helped the project gain significant attention and commercial success. This collaboration played an important role in expanding KAWS’s recognition not only in Japan but also worldwide.
His Artistic
Looking at his works from the early 2000s, KAWS often reworked characters that the public was already familiar with — such as those from The Simpsons, Mickey Mouse, the Michelin Man, The Smurfs, and SpongeBob SquarePants.
His main character, Companion, carries a meaning that reflects its name — it can refer to a friend, a companion, or even a beloved pet.
The figure of Companion features KAWS’s signature “X” eyes on a body that resembles Mickey Mouse. This design is often seen as a reflection of the time he spent working as a freelance animator at Disney. Beyond Companion, one of the defining characteristics of KAWS’s work is the way he takes well-known characters from popular culture and overlays them with his signature “XX” motif.
Regarding the meaning of the “X,” KAWS has explained that in the past, crossed-out eyes on a character might have been associated with death. In today’s context, however, the “X” can carry different connotations, especially in internet culture — for example, suggesting something like “Fxxk” or expressing a feeling of awkwardness or surprise (as in “Whoops”). Ultimately, he has said that he prefers to leave the interpretation open to the audience.
Large-Scale Installation
Image Source: Hypebeast
In Korea, a large-scale sculpture by KAWS was also presented in 2018 at Seokchon Lake. The enormous Companion figure, measuring approximately 28 × 25 × 5 meters, floated on the water as part of the project KAWS:HOLIDAY.
According to the artist, the work depicted the character escaping from everyday life, forgetting everything, and simply resting while looking out at the world. Through this installation, KAWS seemed to pose a quiet question to the public — whether our current lives have become too busy, and whether we might need a moment of rest.
(Source: Time Out)/ (Source: Icon).
The KAWS:HOLIDAY
Companion toured multiple locations around the world, including Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and even outer space.
Is KAWS an Art Collector?
KAWS (Brian Donnelly)’s wife, Julia Chiang, is also an artist and sculptor. Perhaps for this reason, the couple shares a strong interest in filling their home with works by other artists. KAWS has said that returning home and focusing on other artists’ work feels refreshing to him.
Their house is located in Brooklyn, New York, and has a distinctive triangular shape. It was designed by the renowned Japanese architect Masamichi Katayama, with KAWS later adding his own personal touch. The interior feels almost like a museum exhibition space. He currently lives there with his wife and their two children.
Inside the home, visitors can find various works by well-known artists, including an unreleased chair created in collaboration with the Campana Brothers and pieces by Takashi Murakami. The walls are painted white and the floors are wooden, creating a clean backdrop that allows the artworks to stand out. Looking at KAWS’s home offers a glimpse into his passion for collecting art.
KAWS’s Current Activities
KAWS previously collaborated with BTS member J-Hope. The album title Jack In The Box refers to a toy that releases figures when the box is opened, reflecting J-Hope’s intention to show a different side of himself. KAWS expressed that he was happy to be part of J-Hope’s first solo project.
As of 2026, KAWS continues to remain highly active in both the art world and popular culture.
As mentioned at the beginning of this post, one of his most notable recent projects is his first institutional solo exhibition in Korea, Friends and Neighbors. The exhibition is being held at Space K Seoul from July 23 to December 27, 2026, and features new large-scale paintings and sculptures that explore the complexities of close relationships.
His work has also been included in major international exhibitions, such as KAWS. Art & Comix at Albertina Modern in Vienna (April–September 2026). In addition, he continues to engage in commercial collaborations.
Source: complex shop
Recently, he released a collection with Major League Baseball (MLB) centered around the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, which could be seen on his Instagram page.
KAWS is regarded as one of the few contemporary artists who freely moves between museum exhibitions, public projects, and mainstream popular culture. His future activities are certainly something to look forward to.
This concludes the
ART & DESIGN RESEARCH series on KAWS,
a topic I truly enjoyed exploring.
In the next post,
I’ll be sharing a review of his first institutional solo exhibition in Korea, Friends and Neighbors.
Thank you for reading.
“If, you found this helpful”😊
If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment.
I’ll answer as best as I can!
References
http://www.architecturaldigest.com
isplus.com
hypebeast.kr
redfriday.co.kr
highsnobiety.com
timeout.com
8days.sg
musaartgallery.com
dope.gallery
yna.co.kr
streetartbio.com
artforum.com
buyandship.com.sg
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