February 6, 2016 – June 12, 2016
This was the first UK museum exhibition of work by the renowned American artist KAWS, whose wide ranging practice includes painting, sculpture, graphic design, toys and prints. The expansive Longside Gallery featured the artist’s large, bright, graphic canvases immaculately rendered in acrylic paint, alongside towering sculptures in fibreglass and wood. The historically designed landscape of YSP became home to a series of monumental and imposing sculptures in KAWS’s trademark style – nostalgic characters in the process of growing up.
They are unlikely but most welcome companions for the long-standing classical works of Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore exhibited in the landscape at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park near Wakefield.
Six giant sculptures measuring between six and 10 metres high grace the parkland while more sculptures including a baby pink monstrous rabbit-like figure are exhibited in the Longside Gallery, together with five paintings created especially for this show.
All this is the work of former graffiti artist KAWS, otherwise Brian Donnelly, a Brooklyn-based artist, printmaker and sculptor who has, for many, taken popular imagery to another level with his giant cartoon-like figures which were installed at YSP using heavy lifting equipment operated by men in hard hats.
At least 20 works created in bronze, fibreglass, aluminium and wood, alongside the bright, painted canvases make up this solo exhibition, KAWS’ first in the UK, which runs until June 12th.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park webpage
Books
