KAWS - Editions, Photographs and Design Hong Kong Friday, June 14, 2024 | Phillips
  • Provenance

    Private Collection, New York (acquired directly from the artist)
    Acquired from the above by the present owner

  • 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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PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT SOUTH-EAST ASIAN COLLECTION

58

TENSION

2019
The complete set of 10 screenprints in colours, on Saunders Waterford paper, the full sheets loose (as issued), all contained in the original grey fabric-covered clamshell portfolio box with embossed title.
all S. 88.9 x 58.4 cm (35 x 22 7/8 in.)
portfolio 93 x 62 x 4.5 cm (36 5/8 x 24 3/8 x 1 3/4 in.)

All signed, dated and numbered 68/100 in various coloured pencils (there were also 20 artist's proofs), published by the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, all unframed.

Estimate
HK$280,000 - 480,000 
€32,900-56,400
$35,900-61,500

Contact Specialist

Nick Wilson
Senior Director, Head of Editions, Photographs and Design, Asia
nickwilson@phillips.com
+852 2318 2022
 

Robert Kennan
Head of Editions, Europe
rkennan@phillips.com
 

Editions, Photographs and Design

Hong Kong Auction 14 June 2024