A large-scale sculpture of the artist KAWS’ ‘ “Companion” figures is being installed at “The Greenpoint” residential development near the India Street waterfront.
The installation appeared over the past weekend in front of the 40-story waterfront building, construction crews were spotted on Monday performing maintenance around the sculpture.
KAWS is the moniker of Brooklyn-based artist Brian Donnelly, who over the past decade has achieved global recognition for his creations that often reinterpret pop culture icons like Mickey Mouse and Cookie Monster.
A similar KAWS sculpture known as “CLEAN SlATE” is on permanent display at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
An inflatable KAWS Companion sculpture was also installed in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour earlier this year, amongst other notable accomplishments, as Artnews reports:
With his huge Companion sculpture floating in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbor this past March, his painting The Kaws Album (2005) selling the next month for $14.7 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, and his T-shirt designs for Uniqlo that have stirred violent shopping frenzies, there is perhaps no artist in the world right now whose work is better known or more recognizable.
In other recent news regarding the “The Greenpoint,” The Ohio State Teachers Retirement System purchased a 50 percent stake in the rental and retail portion of the development valuing the property at more than $350 million, The Real Deal reports:
The Ohio State Teachers Retirement System acquired a 50 percent stake in the rental and retail portion of The Greenpoint tower on the East River, sources told The Real Deal.
A partnership of Mack Real Estate, Palin Enterprises and Urban Development Partners developed the 40-story building at 21 India Street, which includes 95 condominium units, 287 rentals and ground-floor retail.
The pension plan – known as STRS Ohio – cut a check for $95 million to purchase its stake in the property, according to a source familiar with the deal.