Krooked (Skateboard)

The artworks crackle with movement fittingly—Gonzales is a dancer, in the tradition of Merce Cunningham or Trisha Brown, but on wheels. His teenage years in 1980s Los Angeles were spent traversing the streets, which, by proxy, became his moving canvas. He earned a reputation as a pioneer of modern skateboarding—a master, albeit one not bound by flawlessness or precision, but the anarchy afforded only after achieving true mastery. It was as if he haphazardly broke the laws of nature, causing time and space to bend to him, leaving a wake of influential agitation behind him. His art, like his poetry, is not separate from his skating. Gonzales’s canvases are filled with painterly technique honed over years of drawing and painting, but they also exhibit a shambolic quality; the works are precise and imprecise all at once. This particular body is inspired by the disappointment he felt when his business partner “sold out” in the early 1990s, the faces are bursting with bitterness. They are put-on fake smiles, cheerful in the face of misery and embarrassment. Years later, however, the harsh cynicism has softened, and the power of the smiles seems to have cracked the regret. Indeed, Gonzales seems to be saying,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.