Camo Can't Help You (2013)

In 2006, Kaikai Kiki moved its headquarters from a small prefab studio in Saitama’s Asaka city to a sophisticated urban office building in Motoazabu, Tokyo. It was also at this time that we began using the basement floor of the building as a private viewing room for select guests. In March of 2008, we took great pride in re-opening this once exclusive space as Kaikai Kiki Gallery. Through the management of artists and sale of artwork at the gallery, our goal is to create and establish an operation that will imbue art itself with a new social value. We have held exhibitions for not only our resident Kaikai Kiki artists, but also international figures like Mark Grotjahn, Matthew Monahan, Seonna Hong, and Friedrich Kunath. We will continue to invite artists both in and outside of Japan to exhibit, helping to create new and deeper links between art and the world at large. KAWS (real name Brian Donnelly) is an American contemporary artist and designer known for his iconic vinyl toys, large-scale sculptures, and pop culture-inspired artwork. Emerging from the street art and graffiti scene, KAWS has become one of the most influential figures in both fine art and designer toy culture. His most famous figures include the Companion, a Mickey Mouse-like character with X-ed out eyes and a melancholic expression. BFF is a furry, Elmo-like figure with his signature X-eyes. Along with the Chum, Accomplice, and Astro Boy – Other reimagined characters blending pop culture and urban art. His limited-edition collectibles, produced in collaboration with brands like Medicom Toy, have made KAWS a key figure in the designer toy movement. Brian’s large-scale sculptures and paintings have been displayed in MoMA, the Brooklyn Museum, and international galleries. He has worked with Dior, Uniqlo, Nike, and Supreme, merging art with fashion and streetwear. KAWS is one of the most commercially successful and recognizable artists in the contemporary art world. His work blurs the line between fine art, street culture, and collectibles, making him a major influence in both designer toys and contemporary pop art. Acrylic paint is fast drying paint containing pigment suspension in acrylic polymer emulsion. Acrylic paints can be diluted with water, but become water-resistant when dry. Depending on how much the paint is diluted (with water) or modified with acrylic gels, media, or pastes, the finished acrylic painting can resemble a watercolor or an oil painting, or have its own unique characteristics not attainable with other media.