KAWS (b. 1974)

"KAWS' signature touch on his creations are the large X's that block out their eyes. "X" as in negated, "X" as in a kiss, "X" as in death, "X" as in XXX pornography, "X" as in a mathematical variable, "X" as in unknown, "X" as in on sale. The many possible understandings of these humorous yet uncomfortable images leave you feeling betrayed by your first animated childhood friends. The obscene and the morbid mingle with the squeaky-clean and the cute, revealing a discomforting mixture" (P. Frank, 'KAWS' Grown up Cartoons Hit Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (PHOTOS),' The Huffington Post, January 27, 2012, accessed via www.huffingtonpost.com, January 30, 2014).