Jesse James
After revealing his giant WHAT PARTY statue in Hong Kong, KAWS is back. The artist returns with a charity initiative that involves his donation of a painting titled WHAT PARTY (KCC3) 2019. All of the proceeds from the sale will directly benefit the non-profit, Free Arts NYC. For those unfamiliar, Free Arts NYC is an organization that provides access to art programming, mentorship and create opportunities for the youth in underserved communities across New York City.
The painting itself measures 36 by 30 inches. The acrylic on canvas work features a compositional view of the artist’s Michelin Man-inspired character called CHUM. The piece is undoubtedly a must-have, as the artist rarely depicts the subject, which we’ve seen in the past. The work also recalls the artist’s upcoming major survey, which is set to launch at the Brooklyn Museum in February 2021.
After the raffle was announced, sacai donated $50,000 USD for the piece. KAWS took to Instagram and stated: “Seize this unique opportunity to acquire a painting by KAWS and show your commitment to advancing equity in the arts. Your donation will directly support helping over 2,000 youth in NYC thrive through creativity.” The caption went on to add, “By making a $100 USD donation, you can enter for a chance to win this painting I donated. The more entries you make, the better your chances to win (and think about all the good karma you will be receiving!!!).”
Check out the piece of art in the image up top and head to Free Arts NYC’s website to learn more about the raffle. In the meantime, keep it locked with The Culture Curators for more art news coming very soon.
Photos via KAWS
