You have seen the crossed-out eyes even if you did not know the name attached to them. KAWS is one of the most recognisable figures in contemporary art, and his work has travelled further into everyday life than almost any of his peers, not least through the UNIQLO collaboration. Here is the story. Shop the range in the KAWS x UNIQLO collection at Shoe Religion.
From graffiti to galleries
KAWS is the working name of the American artist Brian Donnelly. He began in graffiti, and made his early reputation by reworking existing advertising imagery, adding his own motifs to bus shelter and phone box posters. That practice of taking familiar commercial images and making them unmistakably his own has defined everything since.
The signature that emerged from that period is the X. Crossed-out eyes, applied to characters we already recognise, turning something familiar into something slightly uncanny.
Companion: the character that travelled
Companion is the figure most people picture when they hear the name KAWS. A cartoon-derived character with the artist's trademark X eyes, often depicted with hands over its face in a posture that reads as vulnerable, weary or overwhelmed depending on the piece.
That emotional legibility is a large part of why the work connects. Companion has appeared as vinyl figures, as monumental sculptures, as giant floating installations, and as graphics on clothing, and it works at every scale because the feeling reads instantly.
Art on the high street: the UNIQLO chapter
UNIQLO's UT line exists to put graphics from artists and cultural properties onto well-made, accessibly priced T-shirts. Pairing that platform with KAWS made obvious sense: an artist whose whole practice is about mass-culture imagery, printed on genuinely mass-market clothing.
The result was a series of releases that sold out repeatedly and turned a high street tee into a collectable. Pieces like the UT Short Sleeve Graphic T-Shirt in black and the Artbook Cover T-Shirt put original artwork into everyday wardrobes at a fraction of gallery prices.
The Warhol connection
One of the most talked-about UT releases paired KAWS with Andy Warhol imagery, connecting two artists who both built careers on reworking mass culture. See the Warhol UT tee in black and the white version, and read our full explainer on the KAWS x Warhol UT collaboration.
Why the work resonates
KAWS occupies an unusual position: taken seriously in the art world while being genuinely popular outside it. The imagery is approachable, the emotional register is honest, and the collaborations have made it accessible. For a lot of people, a UT tee is their first piece of contemporary art, which is precisely the point.
Frequently asked questions
What is KAWS' real name? Brian Donnelly, an American artist.
What is Companion? His best-known character, a cartoon-derived figure with crossed-out X eyes.
Why does KAWS cross out the eyes? The X motif emerged from his early graffiti and advertising interventions and became his signature.
Where can I buy KAWS x UNIQLO in the UK? Shop the KAWS x UNIQLO collection at Shoe Religion.
Related reading: The Complete KAWS x UNIQLO Guide | UT Buyer's Guide | How to Style KAWS Tees