Born in 1974, American artist and designer

KAWS

“Graffiti is like building a career. And there is a dialogue with the other artists out there mostly fellow writers because a lot of people who don't paint just see a blur when they look at it.”

Contemporary art

“As far as my opinion on galleries, I think they are a great thing. I see them as another outlet. I'm sure by now you've figured out that I do my work for everybody to see. That's the whole point.”

KAWS

“It's just a combination of letters I liked. And when your whole art's based on the lettering you choose, you kinda figure out what ones work together. I just liked the shapes of the k, a, w, s. It has no meaning.”

“My first interest in graffitti came when I was in grammar school, around '87 or '88 I was about twelve years old. I did not know much about writing, I just knew that I liked to write my name everywhere I could in my neighborhood.”