The Collaboration We Needed: KAWS x Absolute Vodka

KAWS has spent the last few decades moving between art, fashion, music and design, building a visual language that feels as at home in the street as it does in a gallery. His latest collaboration with Absolut Vodka is another step in that direction.

Launching in the UK on the 9th of October, the new Artist Edition bottle features his iconic CHUM character and XX motif, bringing KAWS’ work to an entirely different kind of canvas.

It’s a timely example of the way contemporary art continues to move outside traditional spaces  and of KAWS’ role in that shift. The collaboration follows Absolut’s previous Artist Editions with Keith Haring and Andy Warhol, both artists whose work also became closely tied to wider cultural movements. And this time, the partnership has also inspired a brand new, one-of-a-kind artwork piece, created in KAWS famed New York studio. 

KAWS – whose real name is Brian Donnelly – is a natural collaborator for Absolut Vodka, which has always believed that art should be open, joyful and for everyone. His work seamlessly bridges the gap between fine art and popular culture, resonating with audiences far beyond the traditional art scene. Growing up in New Jersey, Donnelly spent his teenage years tagging trains and billboards downtown with his now-famous KAWS tag. Through his instantly recognisable characters, KAWS breaks barriers and makes his thought-provoking work accessible to all.

We are obsessed.

You can find the bottle at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Waitrose.