KAWS' 20-Foot-Tall 'WHAT PARTY' Now Guards New York's Seagram Building

The latest installation of the artist’s CHUM character.

KAWS 'WHAT PARTY' Bronze Sculpture New York seagrams building avenue plaza park 20 foot tall directions location statue
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KAWS, WHAT PARTY, 2019, bronze, approximately 20 feet tall. © KAWS. Courtesy of the artist and Skarstedt, New York
Tom Powel
KAWS 'WHAT PARTY' Bronze Sculpture New York seagrams building avenue plaza park 20 foot tall directions location statue
2 of 2
KAWS, WHAT PARTY, 2019, bronze, approximately 20 feet tall. © KAWS. Courtesy of the artist and Skarstedt, New York
Tom Powel

As KAWS continues his WHAT PARTY projects in the name of public good, he follows Hong Kong’s WHAT PARTY installation with a special public sculpture located in his home city. Organized by Skarstedt Gallery, New York’s Seagram Building now hosts its own 20-foot-tall bronze rendering of the artist’s puffy CHUM character, juxtaposed against Ludwig Mies van der Rohe crisp architecture.

The immense figure is a reflection of the times. Whereas CHUM originally stood tall or ran , the new iterations respond to today’s political and social turmoil with despondent slouching. These WHAT PARTY iterations have slumped shoulders, low-hanging hands and a posture that suggests a long, drawn-out sigh. As usual, it features KAWS’ signature X-ed-out eyes and skull head atop the ribbed Michelin Man-inspired body.

The WHAT PARTY sculpture will be available to view from today at Seagram’s Park Avenue plaza.

Recently, KAWS introduced a clothbound book dubbed He Eats Alone.

Seagram Building
375 Park Ave
New York, NY 10152

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