Photo courtesy of KAWS/MLB
Complex and Fanatics Fest announced a collaboration with Brooklyn-based artist ‘KAWS’ on New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers merchandise, which has off“KAWS, the Brooklyn-based artist whose multidisciplinary practice spans painting, sculpture, and design, has built a body of work that moves seamlessly between fine art and global culture,” Complex said in its July 8 press release. “Known for his reimagining of familiar characters and his precise, graphic visual language, KAWS continues to shape how contemporary audiences engage with art.”
The collaboration comes after two of Major League Baseball’s most successful franchises completed a three-game series in the Bronx earlier this month
The limited-edition merchandise made its in-person debut at Fanatics Fest and the Yankees Stadium team stores. It will later be released at Dodger Stadium team stores on July 31.
“The collection spans Nike jerseys, T-shirts, hoodies, and Nike fitted and snapback caps, each incorporating KAWS’ reinterpretation of official team marks with his ubiquitous ‘XX’,” Complex said. “The collection also includes a range of baseball sporting goods, with his signature COMPANION character appearing across Rawlings baseballs, as well as Marucci bats.”
A limited run of Topps trading cards will also be released with reinterpretations of Yankees and Dodgers symbols with his signature “XX” on each card design. Limited KAWS autographed cards are included.
“Timed to one of baseball’s most storied rivalries, the collection brings KAWS’ distinctive visual language to the diamond, reimagining classic Dodgers and Yankees iconography through his signature “XX” motif and COMPANION character,” Complex said. “The result is a crossover moment at the intersection of sport, art, and pop culture, where legacy franchises are reframed through one of the most influential artists of this generation.”
Merchandise will be available via Complex.com and the Complex App, Fanatics.com, MLBShop.com, the MLB Flagship store in NYC, Nike.com, Nike brick and mortar stores, and select Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees team stores.