The name alone evokes a mix of awe, envy, and a touch of unease. The artist, born Brian Donnelly, became synonymous with the rise of contemporary art's commercialization, his signature cartoonish figures and instantly recognizable "XX" motif capturing the zeitgeist of a generation. But while his success remains undeniable, it's crucial to understand that KAWS’s meteoric rise is more a reflection of the art market's past than its future.