FINAL DAYS (2015), AT THIS TIME, (2013) and ALONG THE WAY, (2013) on display for the exhibition KAWS: FAMILY, at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
In the early 1990s, Brian Donnelly, the American street artist known as KAWS, received an illicit master key capable of unlocking almost any advertising display in Manhattan. Subsequently, New Yorkers began noticing meticulously painted cartoonish figures on high-end advertisements in bus stations and billboards throughout the city. Contrary to a critique of consumerism, these "subvertisements" were a strategic move by Donnelly to expand his audience by merging the worlds of advertisers and graffiti.
Over the next 25 years, KAWS continued to intertwine with mainstream culture, earning a reputation as one of the most popular contemporary artists, albeit one facing substantial critical scrutiny. This month, his influence expands further in Canada, as the Art Gallery of Ontario showcases a selection of his work in the exhibition titled "KAWS: FAMILY."
Donnelly is photographed beside his work at the AGO.
https://horusteez.com/product/louis-vuitton-area-rug-colorful-hypebeast-fashion-luxury-brand-living-room-carpet-floor-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/louis-vuitton-area-rug-hypebeast-fashion-luxury-brand-living-room-carpet-floor-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-with-more-hand-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-x-eye-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-x-snoopy-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-x-supreme-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-x-supreme-luxury-brand-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-xx-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-xx-nike-air-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-small-lie-figure-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-small-lie-set-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-standing-black-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-standing-brown-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-standing-grey-fashion-brand-area-rug-living-room-rug-home-decor-floor-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-supreme-luxury-area-rugs-living-room-carpet-home-fashion-rug-christmas-gift/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-supreme-luxury-collection-area-rugs-living-room-carpet-floor-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-suprise-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-wearing-rock-style-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-white-background-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-jvrrr-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-lie-glow-black-background-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-peace-black-background-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-pink-background-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-play-basketball-supreme-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-red-with-black-background-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-robot-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-sitting-figurines-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-skeleton-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-small-lie-figure-area-rug-for-christmas-bedroom-rug-home-decor-floor-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-black-illustration-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-companion-jordan-nike-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-couple-along-the-way-luxury-brand-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-funny-5-shit-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-head-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-heartbeat-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-holiday-black-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-holiday-figurine-set-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-holiday-grey-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-illustration-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/baby-kaws-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-4-color-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-along-the-way-black-area-rug-bedroom-rug-christmas-gift-us-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-along-the-way-brown-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-along-the-way-grey-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-bart-fashion-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-black-and-white-luxury-brand-collection-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-black-background-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
https://horusteez.com/product/kaws-black-background-luxury-brand-area-rug-living-room-carpet-home-decor/
Donnelly's artistic approach involves utilizing a small repertoire of cartoon figures reminiscent of his youth, such as Mickey Mouse, The Simpsons, the Michelin Man, and Grover. Notably, his figures, including the iconic "Companion" - a somber variation of Mickey Mouse, have transcended traditional art boundaries, appearing in collaborations with brands like Dior, Supreme, and Uniqlo. The figures have been transformed into various forms, from figurines and toys to monumental bronze sculptures and even digital avatars in Augmented Reality and the Fortnite video game.
The seamless fusion of traditional and commercial realms has led to comparisons between KAWS, Andy Warhol, and Jeff Koons. However, Donnelly sees himself aligned with graphic artists like Rick Griffin and Raymond Pettibon, who have left an indelible mark on pop culture. Despite his undeniable impact, KAWS remains a subject of debate among critics, with some questioning his artistic depth.
The Art Gallery of Ontario sees presenting KAWS as an opportunity to understand its evolving audience. Deputy director and chief curator Julian Cox views the exhibition as experimental, reflecting the museum's need to adapt in a changing landscape. For Donnelly, showcasing his work in a museum is a new way to connect with audiences beyond social media, emphasizing the desire to reach people in unexpected ways.
"KAWS: FAMILY" comprises 75 works, including murals, sketches, paintings, and sculptures. For Donnelly, the exhibition is not just about validation but a chance to expose his art beyond the hype-driven social media audience. He envisions it as a seed planter that encourages people to explore more.
Critics often focus on the market aspects of KAWS's work, but Donnelly asserts his goal is to create universally relatable art. Using cartoonish pop cultural figures as a language, he aims to bridge the gap between people and art. Despite criticisms, he remains unfazed, emphasizing that the aesthetic's relatability is more significant than debates over what constitutes art.
"KAWS: FAMILY" is part of a series of pop-art exhibitions at the AGO, following a Warhol retrospective in 2021 and preceding the touring exhibition "Keith Haring: Art is for Everybody." Critics warn against grouping KAWS with other artists, emphasizing his fundamentally conservative view of art as focused on aesthetics.
ACCOMPLICE (2010), by KAWS.
In response, Donnelly remains unperturbed, asserting that debates over what qualifies as art do not concern him. He believes that institutions should explore global cultural movements, and his exhibition is an opportunity to investigate such a movement within the museum framework.
"KAWS: FAMILY" is scheduled to run at the Art Gallery of Ontario from September 27, 2023, to March 31, 2024.
See more news and products at: Horusteez
Comments
Post a Comment