Running Chum #1 by KAWS, a silkscreen print from 2000, is a striking monochrome work that embodies the artist's bold, graphic style. The limited edition piece features the character Chum, one of KAWS's recurring figures, depicted in a stylized, cartoonish form with its signature crossed-out eyes. The image captures Chum mid-motion, emphasizing its plump, rounded contours and exaggerated body shape. The stark contrast between the black background and white outlines creates a powerful visual impact, showcasing KAWS’s approach of blending street art aesthetics with pop culture influences. The simplicity and boldness of the composition reflect the artist's focus on form and his critique of consumerism.
KAWS (USA, 1974), born Brian Donnelly, is a contemporary artist and designer celebrated for his cartoon-inspired sculptures, paintings, and collectible toys. Merging street art and pop culture, his iconic 'Companion' figures and bold graphics have reached global audiences, bridging the worlds of fine art, fashion, and commercial design.
Silkscreen Silkscreen is a printmaking method that uses a screen made of silk or other mesh fabric. The screen is treated with a substance that blocks ink in certain areas, allowing ink to pass through only in the desired sections. Each color in the print requires a separate screen.
Running Chum #1 by KAWS, a silkscreen print from 2000, is a striking monochrome work that embodies the artist's bold, graphic style. The limited edition piece features the character Chum, one of KAWS's recurring figures, depicted in a stylized, cartoonish form with its signature crossed-out eyes. The image captures Chum mid-motion, emphasizing its plump, rounded contours and exaggerated body shape. The stark contrast between the black background and white outlines creates a powerful visual impact, showcasing KAWS’s approach of blending street art aesthetics with pop culture influences. The simplicity and boldness of the composition reflect the artist's focus on form and his critique of consumerism.
KAWS (USA, 1974), born Brian Donnelly, is a contemporary artist and designer celebrated for his cartoon-inspired sculptures, paintings, and collectible toys. Merging street art and pop culture, his iconic 'Companion' figures and bold graphics have reached global audiences, bridging the worlds of fine art, fashion, and commercial design.
Born Brian Donnelly but creating under a pseudonym, Kaws is an artist renowned for his acrylic paintings and sculptures that often employ repeated and distinctive graphics while reworking highly recognisable pop culture icons – Companion is one of his most notable sculptures, a large-scale, clown-like and darker take on the universally-recognised Mickey Mouse. Kaws’ early foray into art was through the form of street-graffiti; his trademark ‘x’ symbol, often applied over the hands, eyes and mouths of his characters, sprung from this phase in which Kaws would often replace public advertisements with his own artwork, a technique known as subvertising. Kaws uses a number of different materials throughout his creative processes including wood, aluminium, fiberglass and a steel pontoon inflatable raft; he has also collaborated with numerous companies and artists including Santastic! and John Mayer. (Artist website)
Graffiti art refers to drawings and writings that are painted, scratched, or scribbled on walls or other surfaces, typically in public spaces. This art form ranges from small tags to elaborate wall paintings. Graffiti has been in existence since ancient times, with examples dating back to the Roman Empire, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Egypt.