Brooklyn based and internationally famous artist KAWS has been re-imagining iconic characters for majority of his career and now he can add the MTV Video Music Awards' Moonman award to his lengthy resumé. With the VMAs coming to Brooklyn for the first time ever, MTV felt it was necessary to make the Moonman feel right at home with his first facelift in 30 years.
First rising to fame in the mid 90s from his graffiti tagging altered bus ads throughout New York City, KAWS has become more know these days for his extremely exclusive pieces that are collected by the likes of Kanye West and Pharrell Williams. Including his highly sought after, extremely collectible vinyl toys, KAWS has been re-imagining some of the most iconic characters in pop-culture. With the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of re-working the iconic Moonman award, KAWS could not refuse to add this piece to his long line of super-limited collectibles.
That's what I liked about the project; I wouldn't want to redesign it for history, I like the idea that at this moment, this first time in Brooklyn, the Moonman's going to change," he said. "I like the fact that, 40 or 60 artists will win this piece, and the majority won't know anything about my work. [And] I'm sure you'll have artists that are mad; they have their perfect chrome line of Moonmen and I've somehow ruined that symmetry ... I love that idea.
Find out who will be adding this latest KAWS piece to their mantle on August 25th, when the MTV Video Music Awards broadcast live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Images courtesy of MTV
