KAWS

An exhibition of paintings, sculptures and screen prints brings KAWS’s instantly recognizable characters into a gallery setting that explores the intersection of pop culture, street art and contemporary fine art.

KAWS is on view from December 18 through January 15 at Opera Gallery Bal Harbour, located within the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort on Miami Beach. The solo exhibition presents works created between 2010 and 2020, featuring selections from the artist’s well-known Holiday, Chum, The News and Companion series.

The exhibition highlights KAWS’s ongoing reinterpretation of familiar pop culture figures, transforming characters associated with childhood and mass media through altered proportions, expressive poses and his signature motif of crossed-out eyes. Key works include the large-scale sculpture Companion (Black Colorway) (2010), the acrylic painting Joe Kaws (2015) and Chum (KC55) (2016), each reflecting the artist’s approach to blending humor, nostalgia and critique.

Born Brian Donnelly, KAWS emerged from the graffiti scene in the 1990s and has since developed a multidisciplinary practice spanning painting, sculpture and large-scale installations. His work has been exhibited internationally and is held in major public and private collections worldwide.

Opera Gallery Bal Harbour is part of an international network founded in 1994, specializing in modern, post-war and contemporary art. The gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.