KAWS Delivers “THE MESSAGE” in Florence
Photography by Ela Bialkowska, Okno Studio. Kaws
KAWS has unveiled his latest large‑scale work, titled “THE MESSAGE”, in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi, where the historic loggia of the palace now hosts a six‑metre wooden installation that merges sacred art references with pop‑cultural energy in a way that only KAWS could.
Presented by Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, the piece reinterprets Fra Angelico’s “Annunciation” (1433) and replaces the angel‑and‑Mary encounter with two of KAWS’s signature characters: COMPANION and BFF. One figure stands tall, one crouches, both in hand‑to‑screen formations, rewriting the moment of divine message for our digital‑age condition of connectivity, isolation and constant looking.
Photography by Ela Bialkowska, Okno Studio. Kaws
What makes this project compelling is how KAWS bridges historic architecture and contemporary life. The 15th‑century stone loggia becomes the stage for a story about our own rituals of attention and technology. The wooden material of the figures softens the austerity of the arcade while heightening the presence of these playful yet intense forms.
For those tracking KAWS’s evolution, “THE MESSAGE” sits at the intersection of his public‑art practice, his sculptural ambition, and his culture‑layered commentary: the work is at once monumental and accessible, playful and serious. Florence becomes not just a stop on the map but a meaningful chapter in his ongoing story of how we inhabit space, image and community.
What To Know:
Location: Palazzo Strozzi, Florence, Italy
On View: October 29, 2025 - January 25, 2026
Height: (2) 6 meter figures (approx.)
Material: Wood
Viewing: Accessible from the palace loggia; public exhibition
