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Kaws and Effect

After Covid zombified downtown San Francisco, SFMOMA director Christopher Bedford turned to an artist with a Warholian grasp of pop culture—and the ability to reengage both families and the tech set.

KAWS brian Donnelly
Auction prices have come way down, although many works by Kaws have sold for prices between $300,000 and $1 million since 2022. Photo: Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images
Marion Maneker
January 4, 2026

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When SFMOMA director Christopher Bedford was searching for a way to bring visitors back to his museum years after the pandemic had reset attendance levels, he turned to Kaws, the artist also known as Brian Donnelly. It turned out to be a smart move: The current Kaws: Family show, with its images of off-kilter cartoon-inspired characters, has been a huge hit, achieving one of Bedford’s most important goals of bringing young professionals and families back to the museum. In fact, the show has been the most successful draw for families since its Andy Warhol exhibition in 2019—before the shutdowns emptied out San Francisco’s downtown. But hold that thought. I’ll get back to it.