What I am Learning and Where I Would Like to Go

     As I have delved deeper into the multiple topics that will come together to create my final thesis proposal of how street art and museums interact, I have learned many of the intricacies of KAWS' early career, and his work with famous fashion brands. Beginning as Brian Donnelly, the artist eventually adopted KAWS as his artistic moniker based on the aesthetic value of the letters when painted together. Through the application of this tag throughout New Jersey and New York City, Brian Donnelly began to fully embody the persona of his artistic alter ego. Continuing with the beginning of his career, one of my favorite facts that I have learned so far is that a classmate at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, gifted Brian Donnelly with a key to open the menagerie of advertisement cases spread throughout the city. If this gift had never been given, KAWS may have not been able to access the advertisements he is best known for, as a means of initiating "forceful collaborations." Another interesting fact to note is the idea that Brian Donnelly did not intend for his career to be considered anti-establishment or rebellious, he simply wanted to use his abilities to alter and enhance advertisements that he considered to be fresh canvases. Through understanding KAWS' beginnings and views, it will enable me to write a more well-rounded paper, and view his career in a manner more closely aligned with his intentions.

    While I have completed a large amount of research on the beginning of KAWS' career, there is still much to be learned about him, as his influence has infiltrated international markets, and spawned many professional collaborations. Additionally, I will need to research the impacts of a large social media following, and how this vast group of supporters may affect, or be affected, by the ever-evolving art market. Through understanding how these various factors interact, I will be be better prepared to assess KAWS' relationship with museums- and the traditional values they imply. More specifically, I hope to examine the various celebrities who function as "influencers" for the work of KAWS, and also, how a large fanbase may influence the choices of museums as they seek to turn a profit and increase annual visitors. This following, and their impact on museums, will be further expanded upon as my research into KAWS' relationship with Japanese markets and the inclusion of statues and miniatures has altered the trajectory of his original street art path. While there may appear to be many disparate pieces presented, when combined, these elements will tell the story of KAWS' career, and how his influence has permeated even the most formal of institutions.