“Investigating the Collection of Creations by KAWS: A 30-Year Reflection”
KAWS: FAMILY, 2025
Prior to the launch of the KAWS: FAMILY exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), it had already garnered the interest of over 20 million individuals worldwide. This eagerly awaited exhibition by the celebrated artist KAWS, known as Brian Donnelly, journeyed through Hong Kong, Doha, and Melbourne before making its U.S. premiere at SFMOMA in November 2025.
KAWS commenced his artistic path by creating graffiti in the urban landscapes of Jersey City and Manhattan during the 1990s, later becoming a student at the School of Visual Arts. Since that time, he has developed a unique visual lexicon through painting, sculpture, and commercial enterprises.
The KAWS: FAMILY exhibition, featuring 100 works of his creation, is arranged into “encounters,” clusters of related artworks displayed throughout SFMOMA’s Floor 4. The focal point, the sculpture FAMILY (2021), showcases his signature characters COMPANION, CHUM, and BFF. These figures, inspired by American animation and pop culture icons like Mickey Mouse and The Simpsons, evoke both recognition and profound human sentiments.
Christopher Bedford, the director of SFMOMA, emphasizes KAWS’s widespread appeal, remarking on his fusion of street art with traditional artistic methods. KAWS’s relatability extends to common items like cereal boxes in parallel with his more traditional artworks.
KAWS: FAMILY is available for viewing until May 3, 2026, at SFMOMA, encapsulating the artist’s three-decade impact on modern and contemporary art.
Exhibition Information:
KAWS: FAMILY
November 15, 2025–May 3, 2026
SFMOMA, 151 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94103, U.S.A.
For further details on KAWS: [Website](https://kawsone.com/) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/kaws/?hl=en)
SFMOMA: [Website](https://www.sfmoma.org/) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/sfmoma) | [Facebook](https://facebook.com/sfmoma)
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