KAWS and His Giant Sculptures: When Art Takes on a Monumental Dimension
- Delphine & Romain Class
- Aug 29
- 5 min read
KAWS’s monumental works, sometimes exceeding thirty meters in height, have become cultural events in their own right. With their familiar shapes and pop aesthetic, they transform public spaces into global artistic stages.
An Artist Between Graffiti and Pop Culture
Born in 1974 in Jersey City under the name Brian Donnelly, KAWS began his career in graffiti in the early 1990s. His pseudonym quickly became a fixture on the walls of New York, even appearing on hijacked advertising posters that he altered at night with paint and humor. After graduating in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in 1996, he started working as an animator at Disney, contributing to productions such as 101 Dalmatians.
But it was outside the studios that he truly forged his identity: he transitioned his hybrid characters—with their round heads and X-ed out eyes—from the street to the gallery, and later into collectible figures and sculpture. In the 2000s, his Companion character, inspired by Mickey Mouse, became a true icon of contemporary art.
"I’ve always wanted my work to remain accessible, to circulate in different contexts, to escape the confines of museum walls," KAWS told The New York Times in an interview. The pop artist has adapted most of his works into collectible vinyl figures, sold through specialized galleries like Class Art Biarritz. His main characters include Companion, Chum, and BFF.
Sculptures Over Thirty Meters Tall
For the past fifteen years or so, KAWS has been expanding his characters—Companion, Chum, and BFF—to unprecedented scales. These monumental, often inflatable sculptures travel across the globe, drawing crowds comparable to those at a festival.
For KAWS, these projects are a way to engage directly with the public:“When you place a sculpture of that scale in an open space, people don’t need to be prepared or initiated into contemporary art. They simply respond with their feelings, with immediate emotion.”
Monumentality in the Service of Emotion
Despite their massive scale, KAWS’s sculptures do not aim to dominate—they move viewers through their vulnerability. His giant characters are often shown holding their heads in their hands, embracing one another, or lying down in almost melancholic poses.
As art critic Michael Auping, former curator at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, explained:“KAWS understands that at a large scale, what strikes the viewer is not just the size, but the fragility and emotion he manages to convey. It’s a paradox that resonates deeply.”
A New Definition of Public Art
With his giant sculptures, KAWS has redefined the role of art in the urban environment. His creations do not remain confined within museum walls but take over public spaces—from parks and waterfronts to rooftops and city squares. Their monumental size draws crowds, their pop aesthetic appeals to a wide audience, and their emotional impact goes beyond the usual boundaries of contemporary art.
“I love the idea that my characters can travel, appear in different parts of the world, and belong to everyone—if only for the duration of an exhibition,” the artist sums up.
Timeline of KAWS's Major Monumental Installations
2010 – Hong Kong / New York: Companion (Passing Through), a seated sculpture over 7 meters tall, one of KAWS’s first major public installations.
2016 – Seoul (South Korea): Exhibition at Seoul Sky Park featuring giant Companion sculptures displayed in the urban landscape.
2018 – Taipei (Taiwan): KAWS:HOLIDAY, a 36-meter-long inflatable Companion installed in Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall National Park.
2019 – Hong Kong: KAWS:HOLIDAY floats in Victoria Harbour, reaching 37 meters in length.
2019 – Japan (Mount Fuji): Monumental Companion installed at the foot of Mount Fuji, going viral on social media.
2021 – Singapore: Massive reclining Companion in the gardens of Marina Bay Sands.
2022 – Yorkshire Sculpture Park (United Kingdom): Outdoor presentation of several monumental sculptures, some exceeding 10 meters in height.
2023 – Melbourne (Australia): KAWS:HOLIDAY unfolds in Alexandra Gardens with a giant installation visible from across the city.
2025 – Bangkok (Thailand): KAWS:HOLIDAY THAILAND, an 18-meter-tall installation on the Sanam Luang grounds, featuring COMPANION holding the Moon on Earth with a smaller figure on its lap.
Latest Work: KAWS:HOLIDAY THAILAND — A Giant Meditation in Bangkok
In May 2025, KAWS continued his global tour with KAWS:HOLIDAY THAILAND, the 13th stop in the series, installed on the historic grounds of Sanam Luang, in the heart of Bangkok.
The centerpiece is an 18-meter-tall inflatable sculpture depicting the iconic COMPANION character seated on Earth, gently holding the Moon in its hands, with a smaller COMPANION nestled in its lap. This visual composition serves as a powerful symbol: “the transmission of knowledge, values, and care across generations,” embodying continuity between past, present, and future.
Sanam Luang, formerly known as Thung Phra Meru (the Royal Cremation Ground), is a site steeped in tradition and cosmology, regarded as the “center of the universe.” Located next to the Grand Palace, it merges celestial and earthly forces — a fitting setting for such a contemplative work.
KAWS’s Record-Breaking Sale: A Milestone in His Career
While KAWS’s monumental sculptures draw large crowds, his works also command high prices on the art market. The most notable moment was the April 2019 auction at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong, where the painting THE KAWS ALBUM (2005)—a reinterpretation of The Simpsons inspired by the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover—was sold. Estimated at around 1 million dollars, the work ultimately soared to $14.8 million, setting a historic record for the artist. This sale, which far exceeded all expectations, established KAWS as a key figure in global contemporary art, able to captivate both institutional collectors and new buyers from design, fashion, and pop culture.
The Techniques Behind KAWS’s Giants
Creating KAWS’s monumental sculptures involves techniques at the intersection of art and engineering. Depending on the project, the artist uses structures made of fiberglass, aluminum, or bronze, assembled by workshops specializing in large-scale sculpture. For his traveling and temporary installations, such as the KAWS:HOLIDAY series, he favors inflatable PVC structures designed with teams of engineers to ensure stability and safety under various weather conditions.
The precision of the volumes is guaranteed through 3D modeling and digital maquettes, which allow the enlargement of his iconic characters to monumental scale without distortion. This blend of industrial design, digital technology, and artisanal craftsmanship exemplifies KAWS’s approach: to create works that are both monumental and accessible, where technical innovation serves a universal emotional experience.
Comments