KAWS becomes UNIQLO’s first Artist in Residence

Uniqlo has appointed contemporary artist KAWS as its first Artist in Residence, expanding their successful nine-year partnership beyond seasonal T-shirt collections into a comprehensive creative role.

In this new role, KAWS will spearhead Uniqlo’s “Art For All” philosophy by curating art events at flagship stores worldwide, collaborating with museum partners, and developing future LifeWear products with the first collection launching Fall/Winter 2025.

The appointment builds on a highly successful collaboration that began in 2016, producing some of Uniqlo’s most popular collections including partnerships with Peanuts, Sesame Street, and the recent KAWS + Warhol drop.

KAWS will introduce new collaborators to the brand, participate in UT Grand Prix competitions, and work alongside Uniqlo’s global brand ambassadors to expand the retailer’s cultural initiatives.

Past KAWS collaborations have generated massive commercial success, with the 2019 collection selling out on Uniqlo’s Tmall flagship store in China within three seconds and driving KAWS’s search index up more than 180,000 times.

Contemporary artist KAWS has been named UNIQLO’s first Artist in Residence, marking a significant expansion of their successful nine-year partnership beyond seasonal collections into a comprehensive creative role. The announcement, made on September 15 during New York Fashion Week at the Museum of Modern Art, positions KAWS to shape the Japanese retailer’s global cultural initiatives and product development.fashionnetwork

Brian Donnelly, known professionally as KAWS, will now spearhead UNIQLO’s “Art For All” philosophy through curating art events at flagship stores worldwide and collaborating with the brand’s museum partners, including MoMA, the Louvre, and the Tate. His expanded role extends beyond designing T-shirts to developing future LifeWear collections, with his first collection as Artist in Residence set to launch in Fall/Winter 2025.mediainfoline

A Strategic Cultural Partnership

The Artist in Residence position represents a comprehensive creative role that will see KAWS introducing new collaborators, proposing creative concepts, and participating in the UT Grand Prix T-shirt design competition alongside UNIQLO’s global brand ambassadors. This formal arrangement deepens a relationship that began in 2016 with their first UT collection and has produced some of the retailer’s most popular collaborations.mediainfoline

“I am thrilled to be taking this next step with my longtime partner UNIQLO to become the brand’s first Artist In Residence,” KAWS said in a statement. “In this role, I hope to tap into the art community and global creatives to curate the next generation of UNIQLO collaborators. I am looking forward to working on exciting new kinds of LifeWear”.fashionnetwork

John C. Jay, President of Global Creative at Fast Retailing, UNIQLO’s parent company, emphasized the cultural significance of the appointment. “KAWS has been breaking the traditional boundaries of the art world, just as Uniqlo in its efforts to redefine the apparel industry through LifeWear,” Jay stated. “As our artist in residence, KAWS will help Uniqlo to expand the global appreciation and participation of art and creativity for all”.fashionnetwork

Building on Proven Success

The partnership has generated notable commercial success, with past collaborations including KAWS × Peanuts (2017), KAWS × Sesame Street (2018), and the recent KAWS + Warhol collection (2024). These releases have consistently sold out quickly, with the 2019 KAWS collection causing such demand that it sold out on UNIQLO’s Tmall flagship store in China within three seconds.mediainfoline

KAWS’s iconic Companion figures and cross-eyed characters have become synonymous with contemporary pop art, bridging high art and mainstream culture through his work in galleries, street art, and commercial collaborations. His appointment formalizes UNIQLO’s commitment to making art accessible through everyday apparel while positioning the brand as a cultural platform rather than just a retailer.