Kaws

KAWS (New Jersey, 1974).
"Chum Black," 2022.
Sculpture made of painted vinyl.
Signature stamped on the base.
20th Anniversary figure of Chum, a favorite figure of the artist released in 2002.
Titled and dated.
Edited by Kawsone 2022.
Enclosed original packing box with hologram of authenticity.
Measurements: 29,5 x 19 x 11,5 cm (sculpture); 35 x 23 x 13 x 13 cm (box).

Kaws reappropriates pop culture icons such as Mickey Mouse, the Michelin Man, the Smurfs, Snoopy, and SpongeBob SquarePants. His characters are generally depicted in a timid or helpless pose often with their hands over their eyes, or as we see here, in the repeated use of "x's" in hands and eyes. The work of the American designer and artist popularly known as Kaws, includes the repeated use of a cast of figurative characters and motifs, some of which date back to the beginning of his career in the 1990s, initially painted in 2D and later realized in 3D. Some of his characters are his own creations, while others are modified versions of existing icons.Kaws' sculptures range in size from a few centimeters to ten meters tall, and are made of various materials including fiberglass, aluminum, wood, bronze and an inflatable steel pontoon raft. His work is exhibited in galleries and museums, held in permanent collections in public institutions, and avidly collected by individuals, including music producer Swizz Beatz and rapper Pharrell Williams. Several books illustrating his work have been published. He lives and works in Brooklyn, New York, creating sculptures, acrylic paintings on canvas and silkscreen prints, while also collaborating commercially, predominantly on limited edition toys, but also on clothing, skateboards and other products.