KAWS has arrived in Arkansas for the US premiere of FAMILY, a monumental solo survey, at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. An expanded version of the exhibition now graces Bentonville, offering an in-depth exploration of the artist’s XX’ed-eyed visual universe, set against the foresty backdrop of the Ozarks.
Building off its debut presentation at the Art Gallery of Ontario, the exhibition organizes itself in a series of encounters – “families” of works – showcasing KAWS’ practice across various eras and disciplines. Among the display are new additions, including previously unseen, life-sized Monsters, finished in a plastic-sheen of a cereal box toy.
Paying homage to his graffiti roots, the show begins in the late 1990s with some of the classic advertisement (re)works that gave rise to his most famous character. “I thought COMPANION was a one-off-thing. But it continues to occupy space in my mind,” KAWS explained. “The sculptures started having conversations after that. FAMILY is a continuation of that.”
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This artistic dialogue is best captured in the exhibition’s titular piece – a picture-perfect, sculptural portrait of COMPANION, BFF and CHUM. Playing with gesture, scale and texture, the work highlights strength and significance in the small moments – a hand on shoulder, a slight tilt of a head or picking each other up.
From the 50-piece Peanuts tribute of Man’s Best Friend, a stuffed animal-clad couch created with the Campana brothers, to a “cloud” of classic inks-on-paper, FAMILY shines a light on the artist’s love for popular culture alongside his position as one of its creators. Additional standouts include fashion and music collaborations, pandemic-era paintings, larger-than-life bronze sculptures and an all-white gold iteration of SPACE, hailing from the collection of Kid Cudi.
With the excitement of KAWS, the Crystal Bridges Museum continues its nearly 100,000-square-foot expansion. Slated to open in 2026, the expansion will introduce new galleries, educational spaces and dining concepts, all aimed at enhancing the museum’s mission to share stories and narratives in American art. In the meantime, the museum remains open with new installations unfolding across its interior and scenic trails.
KAWS: FAMILY is on view now in Bentonville through July 28, 2025. Head to the museum’s website to purchase tickets.
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