Enter the Halls of KAWS
KAWS "GONE", 2018, Skarstedt Gallery View
Skarstedt gallery, opened their doors to view the latest exhibition by KAWS, GONE, on view from November 8 - December 19, 2018. KAWS is famous for his collaborations and designs in limited edition clothing and collectables. His distinctive style, can be spotted by the way he transforms iconic pop culture characters into thought-provoking, and highly coveted, works of art. KAWS has exhibited extensively throughout the United States and internationally. His art straddles the line between fine art and global commerce, occupying a complex global market. GONE will be the artist's inaugural show upon joining Skarstedt Gallery, debuting four large-scale bronze sculptures, and a series of new paintings.
KAWS the Man, the Myth, the Icon
KAWS "GONE", 2018, Skarstedt Gallery View
KAWS has built a successful career with work that consistently demonstrates his formal agility as an artist, and an underlying wit, irreverence, and affection for the times. Born Brian Donnelly, he began on the streets, tagging walls, underpasses and freight trains in his native New Jersey and in New York City with his self-selected moniker, “KAWS.” He received his BFA from the School of Visual Arts, New York in 1996, landing a job as an illustrator for Disney, where he painted the backgrounds, contributing to films and animated shows such as 101 Dalmatians, Daria, and Doug.
In 1998, he quit his job at Disney and became a full-time artist, after submitting his street designs to an art competition held by the liquor brand Pernod Richard. KAWS won a $10,000 grant, which was more than enough to pay rent for a while. His street art caught the attention of Japanese brands such as - the toy company - Bounty Hunter and - the streetwear brand - Hectic. Bounty Hunter produced his first toy, and Hectic carried T - shirts he designed.
In 2006, KAWS opened Original Fake in Japan. The store sold toys, clothes and other merchandise featuring his designs. His artistic style became especially popular in Japan, where he says the market is more open to artists doing both commercial and fine art. KAWS became a dynamic cultural force, when his playful aesthetic began popping up everywhere from Kanye West's album cover 808s & Heartbreak, soda cans, and even Comme Des Garçons. In 2013, he closed his Tokyo store, allowing more time to focus on fine art, such as large - scale paintings and sculptures. Now admired for his larger-than-life sculptures and vivid paintings that emphasize line and color, KAWS's cast of intriguing characters are perhaps the strongest examples of his ability to form a unique artistic voice.
A Place Within KAWS-mind
KAWS 'WHAT PARTY',2018 with CHUM hand with signature "X"
Experiencing GONE offers endless parallels that one can draw between the paintings and bronzes; possessing a sophisticated humor while employing a refined graphic language marked by bold gestures and thoughtful intricacy. The signature "X" reveals itself again only to be layered by shadowy foregrounds and subject matter, establishing a sense of intimate space within the artist's mind; "I wanted to make something that really felt like loss,” muses Donnelly in an interview with Vanity Fair.
'WHAT PARTY', featuring the iconic CHUM character, who before had been casted valiantly charging to the future, now stands with its head hanging low and shoulders hunched over; subtly alluding to the complex cultural and political environments in which we live. In the sculpture 'GONE', KAWS's COMPANION is seen holding a lifeless BFF, evoking an immediate emotional. Inspired by Michelangelo’s Pietà, KAWS nudges the viewer to consider if the forward stance of COMPANION is that of mercy, sacrifice, or heroism.
New discoveries in KAWS's ideology are also revealed in the curation of paintings, which, unique to his body of work, feature a slightly different color palette. Landscapes are abstracted in rich earthy tones: deep green, burgundy, moss, teal, and pops of neon yellow. Occupying somewhere between installation and painting, these multifaceted works bring a new physicality to the subsequent paradox of emotions.
Conclusion
GONE is the first exhibition of KAWS' I have witnessed in person. His distinctive style—marked by giant cartoon like figures with crosses for eyes— is instantly recognizable. Under the surface, GONE revealed to me an endless commitment to his craft. He demonstrated a skillful mastery of manipulating form, shape, surface and color. A great case study for an aspiring artist looking for a little direction.
Photo Gallery
KAWS 'MIRROR', 2018
KAWS "GONE", 2018, Skarstedt Gallery View, 2nd floor
KAWS "GONE", 2018
KAWS 'WHAT PARTY', 2018
KAWS 'NEW FICTION', 2018
KAWS "GONE", 2018, Skarstedt Gallery View
KAWS GONE
Skarstedt Gallery here
20 East 79th street, New York
Read More about information on this topic below:
source: The Wall Street Journal
source: Vanity Fair
source: Street Art Bio
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