KAWS Ups And Downs Portfolio

KAWS is set to drop his latest product in the very near future, I was lucky enough to get on the pre-sale list for the ten piece portfolio but had to pass as it was too rich for my blood. Still the pieces should please the die hards out there and if you got the cash and are a fan you can try your luck when a very limited amount of them are publicly made available through kawsone.com in the very near future (although if you have the cash for these you probably have already made arrangments.)

Details below…

The portfolio commemorates the opening of KAWS's exhibition UPS AND DOWNS, on view at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Overland Park, Kansas, through February 9, 2014. 

Portfolio specifics:

KAWS

UPS AND DOWNS

2013

Silk screen print on Saunders Waterford 410gm High White paper

Dimensions: Each image/sheet: 35 x 23 inches/88.9 x 58.4 cm.

A total of 10 prints, plus a cover sheet, in a lipped clamshell portfolio box, measuring 25.5 x 36.75 x 1.6875 inches, hinged on the 36.75" side, covered with Cialux 1581 (unframed)

Edition of 100 + 20APs

Signed and numbered "KAWS.. 13" on each of the ten prints

Retail price: $24,000, plus all applicable taxes and crating and shipping costs, to be estimated separately.

The portfolios are scheduled to ship in November. 

Video: Think Talk – “Banksy Interview”

In the latest episode of Adult Swim’s Think Talk Banksy talks about a wide range of topics including the importance of breakfast, boy bands, graffiti and KAWS. I’m not quite sure how serious he’s being about everything in the three-minute interview but it seems to be in good fun and any footage of the legendary Brit is always exciting. 

Video: KAWS redesigns MTV's Moonman

Kaws recently shared some footage of his redesigned MTV Moonman for the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards which will be held in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center come August 25h.  This is the first time the silver spaceman has been altered in its 30 years but doesn't mark a permanent change as there is no plan to make the face-lift the standard for the next 30 years.

"That's what I liked about the project; I wouldn¹t want to redesign it for history, I like the idea that at this moment, this first time in Brooklyn, the Moonman's going to change," he said. "I like the fact that, 40 or 60 artists will win this piece, and the majority won't know anything about my work. [And] I'm sure you'll have artists that are mad; they have their perfect chrome line of Moonmen and I've somehow ruined that symmetry ... I love that idea."

Check out the short video below for more details…

Get More: 2012 VMA, Artists.MTV, Music

KAWS: Seated Companion

With Original Fake’s impending closure this May comes news of what may end up being the final KAWS Companion release from the brand. Of course fans are familiar with the pose as it first made its appearance as the "Passing Through” installation in 2011 and later as a high end 4 ft sculpture sold to ballers; but now it looks like us common folk might be able to grab one for our collections, details to follow as they are made available.

KAWS : The Close Of The Shop And Company OriginalFake

There have been rumors flying around the internet over the past week that KAWS will be closing down his OriginalFake brand and store this year. Brain decided to release a statement last night addressing the rumors first hand and has indeed confirmed OF's closing to move on to bigger and better things.

“May 2013 marks the seventh year anniversary of OriginalFake, and it is at this time that Medicom Toy and I have chosen to close the shop and company. It's been an amazing opportunity to work with Medicom Toy on this project as well as working with Masamichi Katayama of Wonder Wall to create the interior of the shop and Konno of Nexus7 who's incredible talent really added sophistication to the clothing that we produced. I really want to thank the staff in production as well as in our shop. If you ever entered our shop you already know how awesome they are! I would also like to thank all the companies that collaborated with us, your friendship and support has always really meant a lot, and to everyone who has supported OriginalFake,THANK YOU! and I hope to see you all in the next chapter!”

New KAWS Vinyl: Boba Fett

I thought Christmas just passed but apparently it’s coming on January 26^th because KAWS just announced his next drop and it’s a big one in the form of everyone’s favorite intergalactic bounty hunter, Boba Fett. No word on the U.S. release date yet but they usually appear on kawsone.com a week or two after the Japanese release date.

UPDATE: Apparently this is a Japan release only but it goes without saying that these always make it stateside via brick and mortar specialists. 

KAWS: Woodstock Vinyl

Following the KAWS Snoopy release back in October 2011 Brian Donnelly is finally releasing the famous beagles friend Woodstock. The piece is smaller than Snoopy but at the same time not a miniature. It will be released on Saturday December 22nd 2012 at Original Fake in Aoyama for $163. 

Video: “ARTST TLK Episode 2” - KAWS, Pharrell Williams, David Salle

Pharrell Williams interviews internationally renowned artists David Salle, known best for helping define postmodern sensibility, and street artist-turned-sculptor and limited edition toy & clothing designer, KAWS for ARTST TLK. Subjects include their history and humble beginnings, different career stages, motivations, inspirations,  philosophies, first work sold, favorite pieces, venture capitalists as investors in art, legal woes and much more.

Video: KAWS on Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon

As previously reported artist Brian Donnelly, better known as KAWS will join the balloon line-up of the 2012 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  ARTINFO visited KAWS in his Brooklyn studio and talked about his preparation for the parade.

New Kaws Vinyl: "Astro Boy"

KAWS has been on a hot streak lately dropping some great pieces and we got an image and some release info for his next big drop in the form of Astro Boy. This one has been a long time coming as there have been versions of this floating around for years but never looking quite as refined as this.   The piece is scheduled to drop on October 27^th at Original Fake and will retail for 18,900 Yen or approximately $242 U.S. dollars.

KAWS Snoopy Cookie Jar

In celebration of Halloween KAWS is dropping a ceramic Snoopy cookie jar on October 6th at his Original Fake store in japan. The jar will retail for 10,500 Yen which is about $135 U.S.  No word on if the jar will make it stateside officially but I’m sure retailers on this side of the pond that tend to carry his work will be getting some of them for us fans that don’t live in Japan.

New Kaws Vinyl: Companion Resting Place

Star saving because KAWS announced his next vinyl drop and it's a doozy. What you see above a is new figure, “Companion Resting Place,” that will be released soon via OriginalFake and KAWSONE.com.

Kaws Balloon To Appear At Macys Thanksgiving Parade

Here is some exciting news from KAWS. The former graffiti turned contemporary artist has been asked to contribute a balloon to Macys famous Thanksgiving parade this November. Donnelly will join Jeff Koons and Takashi Murakami in the exclusive hundred-feet-high club for artists whose work has floated in the event. The artists trademark Companion will be the adapted character for the project, more specifically a recent rendition who sits with gloved hands covering his face, as if he were ashamed or crying.

“I grew up in Jersey City, watching the parade on TV,” Mr. Donnelly said. “It was more important than the holiday itself. To have my character in a lineup with Snoopy and Kermit is a real dream.”

For more on the story visit the NY Times.

Kaws: Original Fake 6th Anniversary 1000% Bearbrick

KAWS is back with his latest collectable and this one is looking very unique. Making it’s début  during the most recent World Wide BearbrickTour, the Original Fake 1000% Bearbrick, seen above, will  be released  in conjunction with the Original Fake’s 6th anniversary. As always the release will be a limited edition and features the signature round Chompers design. Look out for a release on the 3rd of May 2012.

Original Fake KAWS Companion Candle

KAWS and his brand OriginalFake present another great product for Spring/Summer 2012. The new KAWS Companion Candle looks exactly like the Companion character figures that we have seen over the years. They come in black and ivory and if you make a  purchase of more than 50′000 Yen in the Original Fake store in Tokyo, you can choose one of the two as a freebee. Will these make it to the United States?

Go Buy This: The Ikepod Horizon By KAWS

Contemporary artist KAWS has teamed up with watchmaker Ikepod is for the redesigned Horizon.  KAWS personally designed the dial of this special Horizon. Like all Horizon models this special edition will be 44mm, powered by an ETA 2892, and made of solid titanium.  The asking price for the time piece will be a very hefty $14,000 but with both brands known for having rabid collectors they will surely disappear quickly regardless.

Available at Westime and other luxery watch retailers in the near future.

KAWS – “Partners”

KAWS has dropped his first figure of 2012. The piece entitled “Partners” Is quite different for the former graffiti artist, it features a sculpt of the artist standing next to his companion figure  and is modeled after the statue at Disneyland featuring Walt Disney standing next to Mickey Mouse.  Click HERE for more info. 

Photo By: Dream Finder

Kaws - Black Sponge Bob Print Release

KAWS is set to open his latest museum show, FOCUS:KAWS, at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth this month and to coincide with the opening he will be dropping what I have to believe is the third and final print in his Sponge Bob series. As it was suspected by most the piece is rendered in a black color way, really tying in the three prints together nicely.   This is just the first stop for his upcoming schedule of museum exhibitions as he will move on to Atlanta’s High Museum of Art in February and then to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia next summer. Wish I could make it out for the show as the firm I work for acted as structural engineers for the museum and it’s a real beauty.

Photo: David Woo, Courtesy MAMFW

 

Kaws - Snoopy Vinyl

Kaws news always seems to come in waves, not three days have passed since we brought you news of the seated 4ft Companion making its début in Paris and now this… Brain will be dropping his Peanuts collaboration sometimes next week at both his Original Fake store and Kawsone.com. Not the most exciting of his recent vinyl figures but Snoopy is as iconic as it gets so it’s probably safe to say that the Schultz foundation doesn’t like to see the famous pooch messed with too much... Still it would have been cool if Woodstock came along side.

Kaws - MetLife Billboard 1995, NJ. 

Kaws - 4ft Seated Companion

Photos: StreetArtNews

A new Kaws 4ft Seated Companion made it’s début on the Galerie Perrotin stand @ the International Fair of Contemporary Art in Paris, these were actually cast in bronze as opposed to the fiberglass 8 and 10 footers.