Today, global apparel and lifestyle label Uniqlo marks a new chapter in its story. It has named its first Artist In Residence: American artist KAWS. The contemporary sculptor, whose real name is Brian Donnelly, is best known for his casts, figurines and paintings that subvert popular culture. For the past three decades, his signature character COMPANION has become synonymous with contemporary art in the 21st century.
More than a simple collaboration, Artists In Residence at Uniqlo will step up to enhance the brand’s Art For All initiatives and projects. As the first artist to be tapped for this longterm partnership, KAWS will work to create and direct events at Uniqlo flagship stores around the world. That’s not all: KAWS will collaborate with Uniqlo’s various museum partners to bridge the worlds of fashion and art. He will also be involved in developing future LifeWear collections with Uniqlo. You won’t have to wait long to see KAWS’s vision—his debut collection is the brand’s upcoming Fall/Winter 2025 range.
On his new role, the iconic artist says, “I am thrilled to be taking this next step with my longtime partner Uniqlo to become the brand’s first Artist In Residence. I hope to tap into the art community and global creatives to curate the next generation of Uniqlo collaborators.”
Followers of KAWS will know that the artist has long been affiliated with the fashion brand. His first collaborative project with the label debuted in 2016, where he designed t-shirts for Uniqlo’s UT line for the Spring/Summer season. Following that blossoming first encounter, KAWS has released designs with the brand nearly every year since. His latest work with the brand came out in 2024 for the Fall/Winter season, and featured the prints of boundary-breaking pop artist Andy Warhol. This intersection of art, design and modern style is precisely what defines Uniqlo’s Art For All initiative.
The brand’s Art For All initiative has, for over a decade, has amplified engagement and interest in the arts by collaborating with some of the largest creative institutes worldwide, including the Louvre, MoMA and the Tate galleries. With its UT range, Uniqlo allows artists and their work to more seamlessly intertwine with daily life. Previous collaborators for UT have included renowned Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, American contemporary art mainstay Keith Haring and 20th century German textile artist Anni Albers.
“In our ever-evolving world, art is now more important than ever as an expression of our humanity. KAWS has been breaking the traditional boundaries of the art world, just as Uniqlo in its efforts to redefine the apparel industry through LifeWear,” says John C Jay, Uniqlo’s president of Global Creative of Fast Retailing.
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