KAWS Chair Pink
photo: phillips
"When we first met KAWS, we understood his ability to tell those stories that you will always remember. KAWS x Campana created a common story of referring to memories of childhood, affection, and wellbeing. We are both storytellers." Humberto Campana
Quoted in Alina Cohen, ‘KAWS and the Campana Brothers Join Forces at Design Miami’, Artsy, 7 December 2018, Online.
Considered as one of the most relevant and forward-thinking artists of his generation, KAWS is critically lauded for his multi-disciplinary practice that draws upon pre-existing imagery to comment wittily on consumer culture. With his penchant for collaborations with industry giants, KAWS blurs the boundaries between fine and commercial art as he engages with audiences beyond the prestigious global museums and galleries in which he frequently exhibits. As such, the artist’s unique visual language has made him a leading figure of 21st Century popular culture, following in the footsteps of icons before him such as Andy Warhol and Keith Haring.
photo: phillips
Limited to an edition of 25, the present work is the brainchild of KAWS and Brazilian designers Humberto and Fernando Campana – pioneers in the global design world who are also known as the Campana brothers. Known for their pairing of traditional craftsmanship with unconventional materials and methods, Estudio Campana works can be found in over 40 public collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. Adding to a furniture series of soft-toy sculptural pieces that the Campana brothers have been growing over a decade, the present lot features KAWS’ iconic plush characters. Carefully sewn together in a seemingly random manner, each toy dons the artist’s trademark crossed-out eyes, alongside a signature stitched into one foot. Showcasing the forward-thinking nature of KAWS and Estudio Campana’s leading creative forces, the playful yet curious work is instantly identifiable as part of both collaborators’ practices.
