Gone
Details
Edition
285/750
Medium
Screenprint
Signature
Signed
Unframed Dimensions
15 x 12 in
38.1 x 30.48 cm
Framed Dimensions
22.75 x 19.5 in
57.79 x 49.53 cm
Year
2019
MORE FROM THIS ARTIST
ABOUT THE ARTIST
KAWS (b. 1974, Jersey City, New Jersey), born Brian Donnelly, is one of the most recognizable figures in contemporary art today, celebrated for his crossover impact across fine art, fashion, street culture, and global pop iconography. Beginning as a young graffiti artist in New Jersey, KAWS copied local tags and murals in elementary school, sparking an early fascination with image-making that would eventually shape one of the most influential careers of his generation. Over time, his inspirations expanded from neighborhood graffiti to include painters such as Gerhard Richter, Claes Oldenburg, and Chuck Close, blending street culture with the rigor of contemporary painting.
KAWS studied illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, earning his BFA in 1996. Shortly afterward, he worked for Disney as a freelance animation painter, contributing background work to well-known series such as 101 Dalmatians, Daria, and Doug. Simultaneously, he was gaining notoriety across New York for his bold interventions on billboards, bus stops, and phone booths, transforming commercial advertising into a platform for his now-iconic visual language.
By the late 1990s, KAWS began designing and producing limited-edition vinyl toys, quickly attracting international attention, especially in Japan. Collaborations with cultural powerhouses such as NIGO and A Bathing Ape further cemented his role in shaping global streetwear aesthetics. His character designs, including Companion, BFF, and reinterpretations of Mickey Mouse, The Michelin Man, and SpongeBob SquarePants, became instantly recognizable worldwide for their expressive silhouettes and signature “X” eyes.
Today, KAWS is acclaimed for his monumental sculptures, large-scale public installations, and brightly colored paintings that blend cartoon nostalgia with emotional depth. Works such as Holiday (2019), Untitled (Kimpsons #1) (2004), and The KAWS Album (2005) demonstrate his ability to merge pop satire with fine-art precision. His solo exhibitions span major institutions including The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art (Connecticut), the Harris Museum (UK), Parco Gallery (Tokyo), and City Gallery Chastain (Atlanta). In April 2019, THE KAWS Album, commissioned by NIGO, sold for $14.8 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, setting a personal auction record and marking a turning point in the contemporary art market.
KAWS’ work is featured in prestigious museum collections such as the Brooklyn Museum, The Andy Warhol Museum, Parrish Art Museum, and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. His sculptures have been installed publicly at notable sites including 280 Park Avenue in New York and the Changsha International Finance Square in China. His collectors include global cultural figures such as Drake, Everlast, Pharrell Williams, and RM of BTS. He currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.
Explore KAWS at DTR Modern Galleries
DTR Modern Galleries is proud to offer works by KAWS, an artist whose global influence bridges contemporary art, design, and popular culture. Collectors can explore original works, limited editions, and sculptural pieces by KAWS across all four DTR Modern Galleries locations: New York City, Boston, Palm Beach, and Washington, D.C.
