KAWS, the Brooklyn-based artist whose real name is Brian Donnelly, has collaborated with Absolut Vodka on a new limited-edition Artist Edition bottle. The design is inspired by a painting KAWS created specifically for the project: the brand's apothecary-style bottle carries his signature "XX" motif and his Chum character on the front, with an image of the original painting printed on the back. In a statement, KAWS said he was excited to join the lineage of artists who have worked with Absolut, adding that his goal is to let art meet people in unexpected places. The partnership places KAWS in a decades-long lineage of artist bottle collaborations. Andy Warhol painted "Absolut Warhol" in 1985, becoming the brand's first artist-designed advertisement and prompting Warhol to recommend Keith Haring as his successor. Since the 1980s, more than 550 artists have contributed over 850 artworks inspired by the bottle, a collection now housed at Stockholm's Spritmuseum. KAWS, known for cartoon-like figures that sit at the intersection of street culture, fine art, and commercial goods, has shown at institutions including the Brooklyn Museum, the Serpentine Gallery, and Albertina Modern in Vienna. The Absolut collaboration continues a run of brand partnerships: in 2025 he became UNIQLO's first artist in residence, and this past June he redesigned the packaging of Austria's Sacher-Torte to benefit a children's charity. The limited-edition bottle was made available for pre-order from 1 October 2026 through Absolut's website, followed by a rollout at select US retailers while supplies last. Artsy notes that KAWS himself joins a lineage that has included some of the most recognizable names in contemporary art, continuing the brand's practice of letting its bottle serve as a canvas for the art world's leading figures.