KAWS - 20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale, Afternoon Session New York Tuesday, May 16, 2023 | Phillips

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  • Provenance

    Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner in 2010

  • Literature

    Faye Dowling, The Book of Skulls, London, 2011, pp. 75, 77 (another example illustrated, p. 75; erroneously dated 2009)

  • Artist Biography

    KAWS

    American • 1974

    To understand the work of KAWS is to understand his roots in the skateboard and graffiti crews of New York City. Brian Donnelly chose KAWS as his moniker to tag city streets beginning in the 1990s, and quickly became a celebrated standout in the scene. Having swapped spray paint for explorations in fine art spanning sculpture, painting and collage, KAWS has maintained a fascination with classic cartoons, including Garfield, SpongeBob SquarePants and The Simpsons, and reconfigured familiar subjects into a world of fantasy. 

    Perhaps he is most known for his larger-than-life fiberglass sculptures that supplant the body of Mickey Mouse onto KAWS' own imagined creatures, often with 'x'-ed out eyes or ultra-animated features. However, KAWS also works frequently in neon and vivid paint, adding animation and depth to contemporary paintings filled with approachable imagination. There is mass appeal to KAWS, who exhibits globally and most frequently in Asia, Europe and the United States.  

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422

Chum (Black)

incised with the artist's signature, number and date "KAWS..08 1/3" on the underside
painted bronze
20 3/4 x 13 x 7 in. (52.7 x 33 x 17.8 cm)
Executed in 2008, this work is number 1 from an edition of 3 plus 1 artist's proof.

Estimate
$180,000 - 250,000 

Sold for $215,900

Contact Specialist

Patrizia Koenig
Specialist, Head of Sale, Afternoon Session
+1 212 940 1279
pkoenig@phillips.com

20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale, Afternoon Session

New York Auction 16 May 2023