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Want to know how a kid from Jersey City went from graffitiing the Holland Tunnel to selling over $200,000,000 in art last year alone?
Time for a thread
Time for a thread
Meet KAWS. Many compare his work to other big names in the NYC graffiti scene like Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
But before there was KAWS, there was a 12-year-old named Brian Donnelly tagging his art around New Jersey
But before there was KAWS, there was a 12-year-old named Brian Donnelly tagging his art around New Jersey
By the early 90s, KAWS was off to New York’s School of Visual Arts. There he began “subvertising” images — on bus stops, phone booths and billboards.
KAWS grew in notoriety as the public became more and more captivated by his ads.
KAWS grew in notoriety as the public became more and more captivated by his ads.
After a brief stint at Disney, KAWS began designing toys.
In 1999, he designed his first (and now most famous) toy, COMPANION, for the cult Japanese toy and streetwear brand Bounty Hunter.
They sold out of their production of 500 toys in hours.
In 1999, he designed his first (and now most famous) toy, COMPANION, for the cult Japanese toy and streetwear brand Bounty Hunter.
They sold out of their production of 500 toys in hours.
COMPANION has become a recurring motif throughout KAWS’ work, swiftly cementing its reputation as a must-have collectible.
He also designed toys and clothing for big names like @Nike, @VANS_66 and @COMMEGARCONS.
He also designed toys and clothing for big names like @Nike, @VANS_66 and @COMMEGARCONS.
Among KAWS’ notable followers is the 6 God himself.
In @Drake's 2020 music video for “Tootsie Slide," you can spot some of KAWS’ work in the background as Drizzy shows off his Toronto mansion.
The featured pieces range from $50,000 to $100,000.
In @Drake's 2020 music video for “Tootsie Slide," you can spot some of KAWS’ work in the background as Drizzy shows off his Toronto mansion.
The featured pieces range from $50,000 to $100,000.
KAWS designed @kanyewest's deluxe album cover for 808's and Heartbreak.
From SpongeBob to the Smurfs, KAWS is known to put pop-culture figures in his art.
THE WALK HOME (2012) sold for $6,000,000.
That's a lot of Krabby Patties.
THE WALK HOME (2012) sold for $6,000,000.
That's a lot of Krabby Patties.
In 2019, he beat his auction record after selling “The Kaws Album” in Hong Kong for nearly $15 MILLION.
The painting had an estimated pre-sale value of $760,000–$1 million.
Lesson: ALWAYS bet on the underdog.
The painting had an estimated pre-sale value of $760,000–$1 million.
Lesson: ALWAYS bet on the underdog.
Want to learn more how you can invest in masterpieces from artists like KAWS and Banksy?
Sign up here to explore Masterworks today: https://bit.ly/3ohnMqJ
Sign up here to explore Masterworks today: https://bit.ly/3ohnMqJ
