UNIQLO Champions Global KAWS + Warhol Exhibition, Bringing Pop Art Icons to Pittsburgh and Beyond

The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh just announced a major milestone: UNIQLO is stepping up as the Presenting Sponsor for a groundbreaking international exhibition that pairs two legendary artists—Andy Warhol and KAWS—for the first time. Opening May 18, 2024, in Pittsburgh and running through January 20, 2025, the KAWS + Warhol show dives beneath the surface of these artists’ signature bright aesthetics to explore the darker, more complex themes at play.

What makes this collaboration special? The exhibition doesn’t just celebrate Warhol’s pop culture revolution and KAWS’s contemporary edge separately—it positions their works side-by-side to reveal surprising parallels in how both artists layer meaning beneath colorful, accessible surfaces. This is particularly fitting given UNIQLO’s long-standing commitment to democratizing art through its LifeWear philosophy.

A 20-Year Partnership Takes Center Stage

UNIQLO’s backing isn’t new. The apparel giant has been collaborating with both artists for years. Andy Warhol’s designs first appeared on UNIQLO products back in 2004, thanks to a licensing agreement with The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts—and those collections haven’t stopped since. KAWS joined the party more recently, debuting on UNIQLO’s UT (T-shirt line) in Spring/Summer 2016, with regular collaborative drops ever since.

“The concept of Art for All has long been core to UNIQLO LifeWear,” explained Koji Yanai, Senior Executive Officer of Fast Retailing, UNIQLO’s parent company. “This exhibition holds special meaning as The Andy Warhol Museum celebrates its 30th anniversary, and UNIQLO marks our 40th anniversary. Supporting this global tour lets us bring these iconic works closer to people everywhere.”

From Pittsburgh to Tokyo: A Global Tour Unfolds

The Pittsburgh leg is just the beginning. The exhibition will travel internationally, with Tokyo hosting the show in 2026. UNIQLO’s sponsorship covers the entire global tour, positioning the brand as a key player in expanding access to world-class contemporary and modern art. The Warhol Museum’s director Patrick Moore emphasized the significance: “UNIQLO has deep associations with both KAWS and Andy Warhol. This partnership brings an extraordinary exhibition to a global audience.”

Why This Matters for Art and Commerce

For over a decade, UNIQLO has quietly positioned itself as a patron of major cultural institutions—partnerships with MoMA, Tate, the Louvre, and Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts demonstrate a serious commitment to public access and art education. With over 2,400 UNIQLO stores worldwide and Fast Retailing recording approximately 2.77 trillion yen in global sales for fiscal year 2023 (roughly $18.92 billion), the company wields real influence in how art reaches everyday audiences.

This KAWS + Warhol tour represents the culmination of that strategy: proving that accessible fashion and institutional art can coexist, and that commercial success doesn’t preclude cultural contribution. Whether you’re a collector or a casual museum visitor in Pittsburgh passing through in the coming months, this exhibition offers a rare chance to see how two generations of artists tackled similar questions about meaning, commerce, and visibility—all with UNIQLO’s backing ensuring it travels the globe.