KAWS (Brian Donnelly b. 1974) built a global empire from X’d-out eyes and street-born instincts. What started as subverted billboards in New York evolved into a worldwide phenomenon—Companions towering in city plazas, toys turned blue-chip, and cartoon icons stripped of their innocence. Blurring the line between art, fashion, and consumer culture, KAWS speaks in a language instantly recognizable yet emotionally complex. His work is playful, polished, and quietly existential. At Mania, we recognize KAWS as a crossover architect—one of the few who’ve moved from street corners to Sotheby’s without losing credibility or edge. A pop disruptor turned canon.