We’ve been holding our breath for the highly anticipated first solo exhibition of KAWS, a Brooklyn based artist and designer that specializes in redefining pop culture through modern art.
One can experience his influences stemming from various subcultures of graffiti, skateboarding, and cartoons at his first showcase at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum (Ridgefield, CT).
[pagebreak]
It is no surprise that he worked briefly as a freelance animator for Disney, as those popularized mainstream images are integrated into his work in culturally defiant reconstructions.
[pagebreak]
Like many other contemporary artists, this exhibition highlights the various mediums through which he expresses a humorous yet dark perspective on pop culture. Reminiscent of the comical dog sculptures of Jeff Koons, KAWS takes cue and capitalizes on transforming his interests in designer toys into statuesque sculptures taking larger steps into the art world.
[pagebreak]
There are many pieces of his retrospective along with new key pieces such as a re-make of Pinnochio, hiding behind Mickey Mouse gloves, robots with gargantuan bubbling ears, and mural collages of Sponge Bob Square Pants.
KAWS now has a partnership with Medicom Toy and opened up a toy boutique in the Harajuku-crazy Tokyo. The designer toy craze and mixed media pop art is a genre taking off on its own two feet and provides a witty reflection on subjects and images that are pervasive in contemporary consumer culture.
-EvelynKim| Follow me @evelynjkim
