ArtTactic

In this week’s episode of the ArtTactic Podcast, Ronnie Pirovino, who is recognized as one of the most prolific collectors of Kaws’ work, joins us ahead of Heritage Auctions’ The Toy Collection of Ronnie K. Pirovino sale on November 7th, featuring 118 lots containing Kaws toys from Ronnie’s personal collection. First, Ronnie tells us why he started collecting Kaws’ work in the early 2000s, well before there was the hype for his art that we see today. Also, he explains how he amassed such a large collection of works by Kaws during that time, when Kaws was not a part of the gallery system like traditional artists. Then, Ronnie shares what resonated so strongly with him in Kaws’ work and artist statement that motivated him to acquire hundreds of works. Next, Ronnie speaks about what is so special about the Kaws collecting community, which some have compared to a cult, and how he organically became a leader within it who has made himself accessible to others who have questions about the artist’s work. Lastly, Ronnie discusses the issue of the proliferation of bootlegs or fakes and why he wants his sale to be an opportunity for Kaws collectors to acquire works without having to worry about a questionable provenance.