KAWS

signed, titled and dated 2001 on the reverse, framed

Acquired by the present owner directly from the artist 

Taka Kawachi & Akio E-da, Eds., KAWS ONE, Masakazu Takei (Little More), Tokyo, 2001 (illustrated in colour)
Monica Ramirez-Montagut, KAWS: 1993 - 2010, Skira Rizzoli, New York, 2010, p.19 (illustrated)

This work is in excellent condition overall. There are no apparent condition issues with the work. Under UV light, there is no evidence of restoration. Framed under Plexiglas.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

New York-based artist Brian Donnelly, best known as KAWS, emanates from Andy Warhol's mass-produced art and Keith Haring's graffiti works as he blends the line between fine art and commercial objects. His artworks often derive imageries from popular and mass culture, depicting familiar subjects from classic children's comic book characters. By revamping immediately identifiable characters such as the Simpsons, SpongeBob, and Mickey Mouse, KAWS' creation is meant to be universally understood and to surpass language and cultural barriers. His Kimpsons series, for example, subvert the classic American cartoon The Simpsons and reconfigure the characters with exaggerated emotions that can be easily understood by everyone. Their exaggerated crossbones and X-ed out eyes, both signature motifs in the artist's works which can also be observed in the current work, were derived from his earlier graffiti career when he tagged billboards and branded posters in New York. The bold yet playful gesture detaches KAWS' character from the existing cartoon figures but at the same time provoke a sense of forced collaboration with the original image. The current work has been featured on the cover page of KAWSONE, a limited Japanese publication on the artist's work from the 1990s and early 2000s whose title has since become the artist's branded website. Never been offered at auction before, Yellow Doorway presents a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire an iconic piece from the artist's earlier career as it marks the transition from two-dimensional graffiti and paintings to three-dimensional toys and sculptures.