KAWS' Art Engages With Vivid Color, Whimsy

The KAWS exhibit closed today at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (Pafa) in center city Philadelphia  but the vivid colors and high spirits of the show live on.

In case you missed it, above are some of the delightful sculptures and paintings that were on display amidst Pafa's more traditional holdings.

Brooklyn-based, KAWS is a world-renowned artist who exhibits in museums and galleries internationally. KAWS’ art stands within the historical continuum that began with Pop Art, straddling the line between fine art and global commerce. His artworks are immediately recognizable as he transforms iconic pop culture characters into thought-provoking works of art. His work possesses a sophisticated humor while utilizing a refined graphic language that revitalizes figuration with big, bold gestures and keen, playful intricacy.

By producing fine art via thoughtful interplay with consumer products and collaborations with global brands, KAWS moves beyond the sphere of the exclusive art market to occupy a more complex, global market.

KAWS was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, and received his BFA from the School of Visual Arts. KAWS’ museum exhibitions include solo shows at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia; Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Texas; and the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield, Connecticut. His work can be seen at galleries internationally, including Galerie Perrotin, Paris, Hong Kong, and New York; and Honor Fraser Gallery, Los Angeles, California.