KAWS "Downtime" in Atlanta

February 19, 2012 Lifted Lab

International visual artist and designer KAWS has a new exhibition that opened over the weekend at the High Art Museum in Atlanta. "Downtime" is a collection of paintings, sculpture, toys, and drawings, featuring both older and newer works.

Before the exhibit opened to the public, KAWS kicked things off with an opening party and pre-showing of the work on Thursday. There was a private hour-long lecture before the party for folks to get in the know about the history and constant evolution of his art. During the lecture, the High Museum's curator lead a conversation with KAWS, giving the audience a candid look at this new contemporary artist.

So who is KAWS anyways? For those who may not know, or may just recognize the familiar characters:

"Brian Donnelly, a.k.a. KAWS, emerged as a street artist in the early 1990s, painting his moniker on walls and billboards in and around Jersey City and New York City. In the mid-1990s he began modifying advertisements in bus shelters and on phone booths with paintings of his emblematic skull-and-crossbones motif. He continued to develop this image for the next few years, conducting guerilla interventions on advertisements in bus shelters and phone booths not only in New York City, but also Paris, London, Berlin and Tokyo. "

He is well-recognized all over the world now and can boast collabs with Bape, Burton, Nike, Vans, Comme des Garcon, Hennessy, Kiehl's, Kanye West, and others. Toys have been one of KAWS' long-time staples and his biggest fans can be found amongst the vinyl toy community. A few years ago, he started his own brand called Original Fake with a shop in Tokyo.

Props to the High Museum for showing a succeeding art movement's bold, graphic styles among the same walls where Picasso and other timeless works and revered artists are displayed.