Yesterday we got early access to step into the world of Brian Donnely, the artistic visionary known as Kaws, as he unveiled his inaugural exhibition in Canada, Kaws: Family, at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, and you won’t want to miss it.

 

 

 

 

Best known for his Companion figurines and statues, as well as his infamous X eyes design, the American artist has over 75 items featured, showcasing his career over the last two and a half decades in the world of contemporary art and streetwear.

  

 

 

 

 

  

The event kicked off with a panel wherein Brian spoke about the early days of his career, what inspired his specific style of art, and how he managed to take his career to where it is today.

 

 

 

    

 

We then walked through the three large rooms of the exhibition, on display was a wide range of pieces such as Kid Cudi’s Space chain created in collaboration with Ben Baller, a couch made of plush toys from his collaboration with Uniqlo and Sesame Street and various pairs of his Nike x Sacai collaborative Blazer Lows. 

 

  

 

  

 

 

There were also many prints on the walls such as sketches from his collaboration with Peanuts, Reese’s Puffs cereal boxes, and earlier works like from his street art on Calvin Klein’s 1997 campaign with Keith Haring.

 

  

 

  

 

 

Some of the more striking pieces had to be the “larger than life” sculptures such as the life sized wooden Companions, various sized vinyl figures, a massive chrome Space Holliday Companion and a newly introduced vinyl family with four characters representing a mother, father and two children.

   

 

 

 

 

 

Mark your calendars as the exhibit opens today, Wednesday September 27th, to AGO members, October 4th to annual pass holders, and to the public October 11th. Make sure you stop by if you’re in Toronto before March 31st, 2024 and checkout the gift shop for exclusive merchandise such as t-shirts and companions.