KAWS exhibit at the Aldrich Art Museum in Ridgefield, CT.

Ginormous KAWS CHUM in Black







Bear Bricks!















Here are some photos I took recently there when I visited the Aldrich Museum

This first solo museum exhibition of the work of Brooklyn-based artist and designer Brian Donnelly, a.k.a. KAWS, includes his most recent paintings, sculptures, and drawings, as well as a survey of his iconic street art, apparel, product and graphic designs.




KAWS’s first aesthetic influences came from skateboarding, as did his familiarity with New York City. Around 1991, he started marking his name in different areas of New Jersey and Manhattan. By the time he finished high school, he was mostly focused on graffiti and started intervening on advertising billboards. While exploring new strategies and locations for his work, he obtained a tool for opening bus shelter advertisement boxes. This allowed KAWS to seize the posters, integrate his work, and then replace them. He added an inflated skull with crossed bones and X-ed-out eyes; sometimes the skull was part of a serpentine-looking body that wrapped around the models, a blend that was humorous and daring. Word got around, and when it came to the point where the posters were pulled down and collected almost as soon as KAWS had replaced them, he decided to move on. Next he channeled his creativity into his studio practice, as well as products he developed and distributed on his own and in his boutique in Tokyo, OriginalFake, in partnership with Medicom Toy.

Most recently, KAWS has been exhibiting the art he has been making as a daily practice for some time. His new paintings and sculptures reflect the wit, irreverence, and even affection that he inflicts upon the infamous and iconic entertainment and marketing characters that he loves/hates. KAWS’s characters are highly charged, humorous and yet bittersweet. Although they are recognizable by and accessible to everyone, ultimately they both serve and criticize contemporary consumer culture.

via Aldrich Art Cont. Museum

They are also on twitter account to follow: @TheAldrich

The staff was great, got to speak to Chris and Shannon who were so helpful and even took their time on where else to check out in town.

I was very fortunate since they only had a limited amounts of the Jun Takahashi of UNDERCOVER collaboration with KAWS Bear Companions which went out like hot cakes on the first day it was announced. I have to thank Lise for her hospitality and great service Merci Beaucoup!