b. 1966, Garges-lès-Gonesse, France

KAWS, also known as Brian Donnelly (1974), is an American artist and designer. Donnelly grew up in New Jersey and now works out of a studio in Brooklyn. His practice is deeply connected to the underground scenes in New York of which he was a part. Skateboarding and Graffiti defined his early years and he has transitioned this aesthetic into his contemporary practice. His work includes repeated use of a cast of figurative characters and motifs, some dating back to the beginning of his career in the 1990s. Some of his characters are his own creations while others are reworked versions of existing icons. His characters are celebrated for their ability to communicate universally recognized emotions that transcend language and culture. Whether rendered in 2D or 3D, his style emphasizes bold colours and clean lines.