Summary
The ALBERTINA MODERN in Vienna has officially announced “KAWS: Art & Comix,” a massive new exhibition opening on April 3, 2026
The presentation explores the dynamic interplay between comic strips, cartoons, and fine art, highlighting how artists blur the boundaries between high and low culture
Legendary KAWS sculptures like “SPACE” and “TIME OFF” will be displayed in direct dialogue with contemporary works from Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Joyce Pensato, and Peter Saul
KAWS is officially bringing his iconic cast of characters to Vienna. The ALBERTINA MODERN museum has announced its highly anticipated upcoming exhibition, “KAWS: Art & Comix,” set to open its doors to the public this spring. Offering a deep dive into the intersection of fine art and popular culture, the expansive presentation explores the universal language of comics, cartoons, and graphic storytelling through the lens of one of the most influential artists of our generation.
“KAWS: Art & Comix” serves as a masterclass in blurring the boundaries between high and low art. The exhibition traces KAWS’s legendary evolution from a 1990s graffiti artist overpainting public advertisements with his signature skull-and-crossbones motif to a global powerhouse creating larger-than-life figurative sculptures. Signature works like the isolated and melancholic “COMPANION” and “ACCOMPLICE” figures will be heavily featured, including standout pieces such as the 2021 “TIME OFF” and 2023 “SPACE” sculptures.
Rather than a traditional solo retrospective, the ALBERTINA MODERN is placing KAWS in direct dialogue with a massive roster of legendary contemporary artists who share a similar artistic autonomy. The curated selection proves how characters and comic motifs have historically transcended national boundaries and social strata as an accessible way to tell stories. Visitors will see KAWS’s creations juxtaposed against near-classic comic works by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Ad Reinhardt, alongside radical, boundary-pushing pieces from Keith Haring, Peter Saul, Joyce Pensato, and Cosima von Bonin.
Comic characters act as the true leitmotifs throughout the space, moving far beyond mere pop-culture references. The expansive gallery will also showcase Katherine Bernhardt’s “Pink Panther” paintings, Magdalena Suarez Frimkess’s ceramic figures, and manga-inspired canvases by Isolde Maria Joham, cementing the enduring impact of animated physical dispositions and exaggerated gestures in modern fine art.
Supported by the Liu Shiming Art Foundation, “KAWS: Art & Comix” will be on view at the ALBERTINA MODERN in Vienna from April 3, 2026, through September 27, 2026.
