Hey, what’s up? Do you like art? Do you like pop culture? Do you like cool stuff that makes you go wow? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you need to check out KAWS and his amazing show at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) in Toronto. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
KAWS, or Brian Donnelly, is a super-talented artist from Brooklyn who makes awesome sculptures, paintings, and products that are inspired by cartoons, comics, and movies. He takes characters like Mickey Mouse, SpongeBob, The Simpsons, and Peanuts, and gives them his own twist. He makes them look more edgy, more funny, and more relatable. He also adds his signature X-ed-out eyes and long skulls, which are like his trademark.
KAWS has been making art for over 20 years, and he has become one of the most popular and influential artists in the world. He has worked with big brands like Nike, Dior, Uniqlo, and Sesame Street, and he has fans like Pharrell, Kanye West, and Drake. He has also shown his work in museums and galleries all over the world, and he has sold his pieces for millions of dollars.
But you don’t have to be rich or famous to enjoy his art. You can see his first Canadian museum exhibition, KAWS: FAMILY, at the AGO right now. It’s on until March 31, 2024, and it’s totally worth it. The exhibition has over 75 artworks, including wall murals, sketches, paintings, sculptures, and his altered phone booth ads. It also has two augmented reality (AR) artworks, which you can see and share using a free app on your phone.
The highlight of the exhibition is a huge bronze sculpture called FAMILY (2021), which is in the Signy Eaton Gallery. It has four of KAWS’ characters posing as a family, and it’s super cute and touching. It makes you think about your own family, and how much you love them. It also makes you wonder what KAWS’ family is like, and how he feels about them.
The exhibition is curated by Julian Cox, who is the AGO Deputy Director and Chief Curator. He did a great job of organizing the exhibition, and he also wrote a cool book about KAWS and his work. You can buy the book at the AGO shop, along with other KAWS merchandise, like T-shirts, toys, and stickers.
The exhibition is organized by Julian Cox, AGO Deputy Director and Chief Curator, and it spans three spaces at the AGO. The centerpiece of the exhibition is a larger-than-life painted bronze sculpture FAMILY (2021), featuring four of KAWS’ recurring figures of varying sizes posed as a nuclear family. The sculpture is located in Signy Eaton Gallery, and it is a stunning sight to behold. The figures have their signature X-ed out eyes and elongated skulls, but they also have a sense of warmth and intimacy that is rare in KAWS’ work. They seem to be embracing each other, as if seeking comfort and protection from the harsh realities of the world.
If you are in Toronto, or planning to visit, you should definitely go see KAWS: FAMILY at the AGO. It’s a fun and inspiring show that will make you smile, laugh, and think. It will also make you appreciate KAWS and his art more, and maybe even inspire you to make your own art. KAWS is awesome, and you should see his show at the AGO
