KAWS, born Brian Donnelly, straddles the worlds of art and design with a prolific body of work that ranges from paintings, murals, and large-scale sculptures to merchandise, furniture, and toys. Much of it centers on Companion, a depressed Mickey Mouse–like character with X’s for eyes. KAWS got his start as a street artist in the late ’90s. KAWS embraces frequent brand collaborations and addresses the intersection of art and commerce with a playful sense of humor. His work has fetched eight figures on the secondary market.

KAWS, born Brian Donnelly, straddles the worlds of art and design with a prolific body of work that ranges from paintings, murals, and large-scale sculptures to merchandise, furniture, and toys. Much of it centers on Companion, a depressed Mickey Mouse–like character with X’s for eyes. KAWS got his start as a street artist in the late ’90s. KAWS embraces frequent brand collaborations and addresses the intersection of art and commerce with a playful sense of humor. His work has fetched eight figures on the secondary market.

KAWS, born Brian Donnelly, straddles the worlds of art and design with a prolific body of work that ranges from paintings, murals, and large-scale sculptures to merchandise, furniture, and toys. Much of it centers on Companion, a depressed Mickey Mouse–like character with X’s for eyes. KAWS got his start as a street artist in the late ’90s. KAWS embraces frequent brand collaborations and addresses the intersection of art and commerce with a playful sense of humor. His work has fetched eight figures on the secondary market.