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“Paper Smile” by KAWS, a contemporary artist known for his fusion of art and commercial, leading to collaborations with high-profile brands to create items like toys and clothing. This limited edition screenprint incorporates multi-directional lines with yellow highlights partially obscuring a pair of KAW’s signature crossed-out eyes, as a part of his abstract SpongeBob series. The piece was created for the largest exhibition of the artist’s work,“Down Time” in 2013 at the High Museum of Art, Atlanta. Imagined in a flat, cartoonish style characteristic of much of KAWS’s 2D work, the piece recalls the art of Pop icons of the past such as Andy Warhol, while referencing his roots as a graffiti artist-turned-Disney illustrator. The print measures 25 ⅛ inches tall by 20 inches wide, and is signed and numbered by the artist.
To see more of KAWS’ work at Taglialatella Galleries, visit: https://www.taglialatellagalleries.com/artists/kaws
KAWS (American, b.1974) is a notable limited-edition toy and clothing designer. He was born in Jersey City, NJ, as Brian Donnelly. With influences from traditional life painters, such as Gerhard Richter, Claes Oldenberg, and Chuck Close to graffiti artists in his community and around the world, KAWS has created a vast collection of ground-breaking work that include commercial products, larger-than-life sculptures, and hard-edge paintings. KAWS’s career began as a graffiti artist in New York, NY, in the early 1990s. His images were seen on billboards, bus stops, and in phone booths. He obtained his BFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Once KAWS began to gain popularity, his graffiti advertisements became highly sought after. He traveled extensively to work in Paris, London, Germany, and Japan. In 1998, he received the Pernod Liquid Art Award, which offers a grant to new artists. In late 1990s, KAWS began to design and produce limited-edition toys. These gained international popularity, especially in Japan. KAWS has collaborated with numerous companies including UNIQLO, Nike, BAPE, Jun Takahashi, and many more. His work has exhibited at major institutions like the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, the Newcomb Art Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles and has even had several solo exhibitions at institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum and the Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art. The artist currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.
