KAWS Art
American
In the beginning, Brian Donnelly was just a kid from Jersey City, New Jersey, who got into the graffiti thing. KAWS was his tag, chosen simply because he liked the way it looked. Today, KAWS creates all kinds of art — there are KAWS figures and toys, sculptures and colorful drawings, paintings and prints that appropriate pop phenomena like the Smurfs, the Simpsons and SpongeBob SquarePants.
In the late 1990s, the artist, a 1996 graduate of New York’s School of Visual Arts, was making a living as an illustrator for the animation studio Jumbo Pictures. Like young Hansel and Gretel with their trail of crumbs, KAWS would mark the morning route to his downtown Manhattan office with “subvertising,” “interrupting” fashion advertisements by adding his colorful character Bendy, its sinuous length sliding playfully around the likes of a Calvin Klein perfume bottle or supermodel Christy Turlington.
These creations gained a following, to the point where work posted in the morning would disappear by lunchtime. Even in those early days, KAWS was hot on the resale market.
“When I was doing graffiti,” he once explained, “it meant nothing to me to make paintings if I wasn’t reaching people.”
Instead of seeking entrée to the elite New York art world (which, frankly, wasn’t looking for a street artist anyway), KAWS moved to Japan, where a flourishing youth culture welcomed visionaries like him.
In 1999, he partnered with Bounty Hunter, a Japanese toy and streetwear brand, to release his first toy. Companion — an eight-inch-tall vinyl reimagining of Mickey Mouse, with a skull-and-crossbones head and trademark XX eyes — debuted with a limited run of 500. It sold out quickly.
Companion was the first of more than 130 toy designs, which came to include such characters as Chum, Blitz, Be@rbrick, BFF and Milo, each immediately recognizable as KAWS figures by their XX eyes. Fans have proved insatiable. In 2017, MoMA’s online store announced the availability of a limited supply of KAWS Companion figures; as avid collectors logged on to stake their claim, the website crashed — multiple times.
Companion is the most visible of the KAWS posse, appearing over the past decade in new postures and combinations in monumental KAWS statues and other works. These include Along the Way (2013), an 18-foot-tall wooden sculpture of two Companions leaning on each other for support; Together (2016), two Companions in a friendly embrace, which debuted during an exhibition of KAWS’s work at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, in Texas; and KAWS:HOLIDAY (2018), a 92-foot-long inflatable Companion floating on its back in Seoul’s Seokchon Lake. The sculptures were re-created as toys, blurring the lines between art and commerce.
KAWS’s visual language may be drawn from cartoons, but his work doesn’t necessarily evoke childlike joy.
“My figures are not always reflecting the idealistic cartoon view that I grew up on,” he explains in the catalogue for the Fort Worth exhibition. “Companion is more real in dealing with contemporary human circumstances . . . . I think when I’m making work it also often mirrors what’s going on with me at that time.”
KAWS's résumé reads like a record of major 21st-century pop-culture moments. It includes his work with streetwear brands like A Bathing Ape and Supreme; his design for the cover of Kanye West’s 2008 album, 808s & Heartbreak; and his collaboration with designer Kim Jones on the Dior Homme Spring/Summer 2019 collection, Jones’s debut as the fashion brand’s creative director.
Learn how to spot a fake KAWS art toy, and browse authentic KAWS figures, prints, sculptures and mixed media works on 1stDibs.
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Artist: KAWS
Small Lie Mono
By KAWS
Located in Washington , DC, DC
Small Lie Mono
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Paint
KAWS x A Bathing Ape poster
By KAWS
Located in Washington , DC, DC
This poster was designed by KAWS for legendary Japanese streetwear brand A Bathing Ape back in 2003. The collaboration between KAWS and this well respect...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Paper, Lithograph
Small Lie Brown
By KAWS
Located in Washington , DC, DC
Small Lie Brown
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Paint
Pink Companion Skeleton
By KAWS
Located in Washington , DC, DC
Rare neon skeleton designed by KAWS in 2007 for his OriginalFake brand during Halloween. Featuring his Companion Skull on a movable skeletal body. Manu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Cardboard, Screen
Bounty Hunter BXH Companion
By KAWS
Located in Washington , DC, DC
In collaboration with Real Mad Hectic, and produced by Bounty Hunter, this piece depicts KAWS’s signature figure, Companion, in Black. This human/animal/cartoon hybrid has a Mickey Mouse body, complete with gloves, shorts, and clown-like shoes...
Category
1990s Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Paint
Share
By KAWS
Located in Bristol, GB
Screenprint on Stonehenge grey paper
AP of 100 aside from the main edition of 500
Signed numbered and dated
Mint. Minor imperfections may appear due to the production process
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Screen
HOLIDAY JAPAN Limited Kokeshi Doll Set (Set of 3)
By KAWS
Located in Bristol, GB
Wood
Edition of 1,000
Unsigned, numbered on wooden insert
New, as issued. Some minor imperfections may exist given the nature of the material. Packaging may have some minor wear
Sol...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Wood
A Bathing Ape Pillow (Screenprint edition of 100)
By KAWS
Located in Washington , DC, DC
KAWS x Bathing Ape pillow, a rare limited edition silkscreen on cotton canvas with a stamped signature from an edition of only 100. An important combinatio...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Polyester, Cotton, Screen
KAWS SHARE brown (KAWS brown companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS SHARE (Brown), new & unopened in its original packaging.
KAWS SHARE first appeared in 'BLACKOUT' – the first London solo exhibition by KAWS (Skarstedt London 2019). In SHARE, K...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Along The Way Brown (KAWS brown Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Brown Along The Way Companion. New and unopened in its original box. The KAWS Along The Way figurine is a rendition of the artist's 2013 eighteen-foot wood sculpture originally exhibited at Mary Boone gallery New York. The KAWS Along The Way figurine is a rendition of the artist's 2013 18 foot wood sculpture originally exhibited at Mary Boone gallery NY. Along the Way presents a unique pose for KAWS’s signature Companion characters. KAWS' design features two of his iconic companions leaning on each other for emotional support, hands heavy, and eyes cast downward. Two years later, KAWS supersized the composition, installing an 18-foot-tall wooden version of Along the Way in the lobby of the Brooklyn Museum, which the museum also acquired for its permanent collection. Large scale versions of Along the Way have also been exhibited at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Yorkshire Sculpture Park in England, the Yuz Museum in Shanghai, and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth in Texas.
Medium: Painted Vinyl Cast Resin.
10.5 x 9 x inches.
New in original box; excellent condition.
From a sold out unnumbered edition.
KAWS
A leading artist of his generation, Brooklyn-based KAWS engages audiences beyond the museums and galleries in which he regularly exhibits. KAWS is perhaps best known for his iconic character, Companion, which is featured in key paintings, sculptures, products, and toy figures.
KAWS’ art possesses a sophisticated humor and thoughtful critique of consumer products. His bold, high-minded graphic language revitalizes figuration with big, bold gestures and keen, playful intricacy.
Related Categories
Banksy. Shepard Fairey. Street Art. Damien Hirst. Art toys. Kaws Companion. Kaws toys...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
Metal Chogokin 200% Dissected Bearbrick
By KAWS
Located in Washington , DC, DC
Beautiful metal KAWS Dissected Bearbrick with articulated joints. Instead of the usual plastic or vinyl used for his toys, this beautiful piece is made ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Metal
KAWS Companion 2016 (KAWS Flayed)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Red Blush Companion 2016 (KAWS Flayed): New and sealed in its original packaging. Published by Medicom Japan in conjunction with the exhibition, KAWS:...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
Take (Blue)
By KAWS
Located in Washington , DC, DC
Take (Blue)
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS Holiday Plush Companion (KAWS plush brown)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Plush Holiday Companion Limited Edition:
This 20" brown KAWS plush was published to commemorate the debut of KAWS’ floating art piece in Hong Kong during Hong Kong Art Basel 2019. A well-sized standout KAWS collectible that would look great in any setting.
Medium: Plush figurine.
Year: 2019
Dimensions: 20 inches tall.
New in original packaging, with tags; excellent condition.
From a sold out edition of 2000.
Embroidered KAWS signature on the underside of each foot.
KAWS is an American graffiti artist and designer known for his toys, paintings, and prints. Born Brian Donnelly on November 4, 1974 in Jersey City, NJ, KAWS graduated with a BFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York and went on to work in animation. “When your whole art is based on the lettering you choose, you kinda figure out what ones work together. I just liked the shapes of the k, a, w, s,” he explained of his moniker. Having started as a graffiti artist in New York in the early 1990s, KAWS began reworking advertisements in his distinctive style. Pop Art and culture permeate his cartoonish Companion series of figurines, which bear a resemblance to the works of Takashi Murakami. KAWS worked together with Nike in 2017 to produce an Air Jordan...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Cotton
Teapot
By KAWS
Located in Bristol, GB
Ceramic
Edition of 1000
Handle to spout: 13.5 cm x 20.5 cm, 5.3 x 8 in (handle to spout), Base: 12.5 cm, 4.9 in (diameter)
Stamped on the base of the teapot, comes with authenticity...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Ceramic
Untitled
By KAWS
Located in Washington , DC, DC
This rare print was a part of a set that was specially crafted to commemorate KAWs’s involvement with Japanese designer Undercover’s Spring/Summer 2000 collection, launched in 1999. ...
Category
1990s Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Lithograph
Take (Black)
By KAWS
Located in Washington , DC, DC
Take (Black)
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
What Party Chum Pink
By KAWS
Located in Washington , DC, DC
What Party Chum Pink
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl
KAWS Companion 2016: set of 2 works (KAWS companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Companion 2016 (Set of 2 individual works):
each, new and sealed in their original packaging. These iconic KAWS figurative sculptures were published by Medicom Japan in conjunct...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS - Holiday: Singapore (Grey Edition) - Pop Art
By KAWS
Located in Asheville, NC
KAWS - Holiday: Singapore (Grey Edition) - Pop Art
Artists
KAWS
Edition Details
Year: 2021
Class: Toy
Status: Official
Released: 11/13/21
Paper: Vinyl
Abou...
Category
2010s Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Synthetic, Acrylic Polymer, Resin, Plastic, Latex, Polyester, Polystyren...
Blush Companion
By KAWS
Located in Washington , DC, DC
Blush Companion
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Plastic
Hasebe LP
By KAWS
Located in Washington , DC, DC
This vinyl record was designed by KAWS in 2002, very early into his career for DJ Hasebe. This is a rare Japan only release
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Paper
KAWS SHARE set of 2 works (KAWS Share companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS SHARE Companion (Set of 2: Black & Grey):
Set of 2 KAWS SHARE figurative sculptures, each new & unopened in its original packaging. KAWS SHARE first appeared in 'BLACKOUT' – th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS - Holiday: Singapore (Black Edition) - Pop Art
By KAWS
Located in Asheville, NC
KAWS - Holiday: Singapore (Black Edition) - Pop Art
Artists
KAWS
Edition Details
Year: 2021
Class: Toy
Status: Official
Released: 11/13/21
Paper: Vinyl
Abo...
Category
2010s Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Synthetic, Acrylic Polymer, Resin, Plastic, Latex, Polyester, Polystyren...
KAWS - Small Lie - Black Version
By KAWS
Located in Dallas, TX
In December 2017, KAWS released a new version of his classic companion character, titled "Small Lie". The figure features the companion slumped over in what appears to be a disappoin...
Category
2010s Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Companion 2016: complete set of 8 works (KAWS Flayed KAWS full body 2016)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Companion 2016, Complete Set of 8 works. Each new and sealed in original packaging. Published by Medicom Japan in conjunction with the exhibition, KAWS: Where The End Starts at ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS:Holiday UK Ceramic Container
By KAWS
Located in Washington , DC, DC
Large limited edition17 inch tall glazed ceramic container of KAWS Companion. Comes as two pieces which would be stacked together. With original box.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Ceramic
BNIB 1000% Grey Bearbrick
By KAWS
Located in Washington , DC, DC
Extremely rare to find this older work in brand new undisplayed condition with original box. Any defects are from the manufacturer.
This 1000% Gray Be@rbrick by KAWS is from 2002, very early into his career. It features his signature XX'd eyes and hands perfectly executed on this large Be@rbrick that stands 28 inches tall. With articulating parts allowing for movement of different body parts, it is also able to be put into different positions. A nice large piece by the increasingly popular KAWS.
The Be@rbrick is a figure produced by the Japanese company...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Plastic
KAWS Pink BFF vinyl (Pink KAWS BFF Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Rare KAWS BFF Pink new, unopened in its original packaging.
A well-received work and variation of KAWS’ large scale BFF sculpture is in Los Angeles's Playa...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Hong Kong Holiday Companion (KAWS grey companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Hong Kong 'Holiday' Companion:
This highly collectible great KAWS Holiday figurine was published by All Rights Reserved to commemorate the debut of a large scale KAWS floating figure in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS - Small Lie - Brown Version
By KAWS
Located in Dallas, TX
In December 2017, KAWS released a new version of his classic companion character, titled "Small Lie". The figure features the companion slumped over in what appears to be a disappoin...
Category
2010s Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
What Party - Chum (Yellow)
By KAWS
Located in Bristol, GB
Painted Cast Vinyl
Open edition
Stamped by the artist's estate
New, as issued. Some minor imperfections may exist given the nature of the material
Sold in the original packaging
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Plastic, Vinyl
Brian Donnelly "Kaws Brooklyn Charity Print" Tondo
By KAWS
Located in Draper, UT
Brian Donnelly
Kaws Brooklyn Charity Print
MINT CONDITION
Signed and Stamped
This limited edition print measures approx 8" diameter.
Your print will b...
Category
2010s KAWS Art
Materials
Screen
KAWS Holiday SPACE Companion (KAWS silver holiday space)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS:HOLIDAY SPACE (Silver), is a celebration of 20 years of the KAWS Companion. Using a sounding balloon, the KAWS:HOLIDAY SPACE was sent up 41.5km into...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Polyurethane
Signed KAWS ONE monograph (signed KAWS Tokyo 2001)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Signed KAWS ONE Artist Book 2001:
Rare hand graffiti-signed KAWS ONE artist book, Tokyo, Japan, 2001.
A rare early monograph documenting KAWS’ seminal New York bus ad “interruptions”, and renown early characters such as CHUM and the Kimpsons. On the interior 1st page is a seldom seen, bold, elongated KAWS graffiti signature or tag. The book is also inscribed by KAWS (‘To Mishima’). Overall, a must have early KAWS collectible that is quite unique in nature.
1st edition Hardcover book featuring its original OBI band; approximately 80 pages. 8.4 x 6.3 inches (folded closed).
Book Condition: minor shelf wear; otherwise good to very good overall vintage condition.
Signature: Well preserved, in bold permanent black marker.
Published 2001 by Little More Japan from a limited series of unknown. Cover image features KAWS’ much iconic, Kimpson Krusty the Clown.
Provenance: Obtained from a well-known New York based rare book specialist.
KAWS is an American graffiti artist and designer known for his toys, paintings, and prints. Born Brian Donnelly on November 4, 1974 in Jersey City, NJ, KAWS graduated with a BFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York and went on to work in animation. “When your whole art is based on the lettering you choose, you kinda figure out what ones work together. I just liked the shapes of the k, a, w, s,” he explained of his moniker. Having started as a graffiti artist in New York in the early 1990s, KAWS began reworking advertisements in his distinctive style. Pop Art and culture permeate his cartoonish Companion series of figurines, which bear a resemblance to the works of Takashi Murakami. KAWS worked together with Nike in 2017 to produce an Air Jordan 4 shoe and has done multiple collaborations with the clothing brand Uniqlo, continuing to blur the boundaries between fine and commercial art. The artist is also known for his large scale public installations, such as 2019’s KAWS: Holiday which was installed in the Hong Kong harbor during Basel Hong Kong. In 2019, THE KAWS ALBUM (2005) sold at auction for a record $14.8 million, breaking his previous record of $2.7 million which was set in 2018. This work is a take on the Beatles' famous 1967 album cover for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, but instead replaced with characters from The Simpsons with the artist's signature Xs drawn across their eyes and skull. After years in the industry, KAWS gained approval from his peers in the street art world and more recently prestige from the museum and gallery worlds. Today, his work can be found in the collections at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and the Rosenblum Collection in Paris. KAWS currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.
Related Categories:
Kaws prints...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Paper
Tokyo First mini poster
By KAWS
Located in Washington , DC, DC
A relic from the early days of streetwear culture in 2001, this mini poster features a photograph by reknown photographer David Sims reworked by KAWS in his interventionist style. A Kimpsons Krusty the Clown is in the background while a KAWS Bendy wraps itself around the model. On the reverse is information about KAWS's exhibition at Parco Gallery in Tokyo. Sponsors include Supreme and A Bathing Ape...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Lithograph
KAWS SEPARATED set of 2 works (KAWS Separated Companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS SEPARATED (Set of 2 Works: Black & Grey): each new & unopened in original packaging:
These highly collectible KAWS SEPARATED figures are derived fr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Family (Black)
By KAWS
Located in Bristol, GB
Four vinyl figures
Open edition
Unsigned and unnumbered
New, as issued. Sold in the original boxes
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Paint, Plastic
KAWS SHARE Set of 2 (KAWS brown grey share companions)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS SHARE: Set of 2, each new & unopened in its original packaging.
KAWS SHARE first appeared in 'BLACKOUT' – the first London solo exhibition by KAWS (Skarstedt London 2019). In SHARE, KAWS uses two of his characters to convey opposing human attitudes- whereby, the Companion is secure and looks outward, holding but not attached to the toy in its hand. Of recent note, KAWS SHARE was open to public display in New York's famed Rockefeller Center in (August 2021).
Medium: Painted Vinyl Cast Resin. 2020.
12.4 x 6.3 inches (applies to each individual).
New, never displayed; accompanied by original packaging.
From a sold out edition of unknown. Stamped to the underside of feet.
Packed safely & professionally. We are a trusted leading seller & expert in this category.
A leading artist of his generation, Brooklyn-based KAWS engages audiences beyond the museums and galleries in which he regularly exhibits. KAWS is perhaps best known for his iconic character, Companion, which is featured in key paintings, sculptures, products, and toy figures.
KAWS, born Brian Donnelly, straddles the worlds of art as well as design with a prolific body of work that ranges from paintings, murals, and large-scale sculptures to merchandise, furniture, and toys. It often centers on Companion, a depressed Mickey Mouse–like character with X’s for eyes. KAWS got his start as a street artist in the late ’90s. His practice has earned him major shows at the Brooklyn Museum, the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, and the Yuz Museum in Shanghai, among other institutions. Evoking the sensibilities of Pop artists such as Andy Warhol and Keith Haring, KAWS embarks on culturally impactful collaborations and explores the intersection of art and commerce...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Flayed Companion 2016 (KAWS brown flayed companion 2016)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Brown Flayed Companion 2016. New and sealed in its original packaging. Published by Medicom Japan in conjunction with the exhibition, KAWS: Wher...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS - FAMILY Figures - Black version - collectible Pop Art
By KAWS
Located in Dallas, TX
KAWS - FAMILY Figures - Black version
New on its original packaging.
Medium: Vinyl & Cast Resin
Category
2010s Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
JPP (Black)
By KAWS
Located in Bristol, GB
Painted Cast Vinyl
Edition of 500 (unnumbered, reported)
Stamped on the underside of feet
New, as issued. Some minor imperfections may exist given the nature of the material
Sold in ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Plastic, Vinyl
KAWS GONE set of 2 (KAWS gone companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS GONE: Set of 2 new & unopened in original packaging.
A well-received work and variation of KAWS' large scale GONE sculpture - a key highlight of KAWS’ ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Street Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
URGE (COMPLETE SET)
By KAWS
Located in Aventura, FL
Based off of a series of paintings currently showing at the Brooklyn Museum. The limited edition works consist of 10 high quality screen prints on Saunders Waterford 425gm HP Hi-Whit...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Street Art KAWS Art
Materials
Paper, Screen
Holiday Singapore (Black, Grey and Brown)
By KAWS
Located in Bristol, GB
Set of three vinyl figures
Open Edition
Unsigned and unnumbered
New, as issued. Sold in the original packaging with COA
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Plastic
KAWS GONE set of 2 (KAWS companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS GONE: set of 2 (Black & Brown), new & unopened in original packaging.
A well-received work and variation of KAWS' large scale GONE sculpture - a key highlight of KAWS’ recent exhibition, 'KAWS: Companionship in the Age of Loneliness...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS TAKE Companion (black KAWS Take)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS TAKE (Black) new & unopened in its original packaging.
A standout KAWS figurative sculpture and variation of KAWS' large scale TAKE sculpture - a key h...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Clean Slate Grey (KAWS grey Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Clean Slate (grey) new & unopened in its original packaging.
A well-received work and variation of KAWS' large scale Clean Slate sculpture - a key highlight of KAWS’ major mus...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS Black Flayed Companion (KAWS flayed)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Black Flayed Companion 2016. A rare, out of print KAWS figurative sculpture new and sealed in its original packaging. Published by Med...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS SHARE Set of 2 (KAWS share companion black & brown)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS SHARE: Set of 2; Brown & Black; each new & unopened in its original packaging.
KAWS SHARE first appeared in 'BLACKOUT' – the first London solo exhibition by KAWS (Skarstedt Lon...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Clean Slate complete set of 3 works (KAWS Companion clean slate set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Clean Slate: Complete Set of 3 (Black, Brown & Grey):
A well-received set of KAWS Companion figures and variation of KAWS’ large scale Clean Slate sculpture held within the perm...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS BFF Companions: Set of 2 works (KAWS BFF vinyl)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS BFF Set of 2: New, unopened in its original packaging.
A well-received variation of KAWS' large scale BFF sculpture is in Los Angeles's Playa Vista ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Companions 2016: set of 2 (KAWS flayed companions)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Flayed Companion: Set of 2. Each, new and sealed in their original packaging. Published by Medicom Japan in conjunction with the exhibition, KAWS: Where The End Starts at the Mo...
Category
2010s Street Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS SHARE complete set of 3 works (KAWS Share companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS SHARE Companion (Set of 3):
Complete Set of 3 KAWS SHARE figurative sculptures, each new & unopened in its original packaging. KAWS SHARE first appeared in 'BLACKOUT' – the first London solo exhibition by KAWS (Skarstedt London 2019). In SHARE, KAWS uses two of his characters to convey opposing human attitudes- whereby, the Companion is secure and looks outward, holding but not attached to the toy in its hand. Of recent note, KAWS SHARE was open to public display in New York's famed Rockefeller Center in (August 2021). New/never displayed & accompanied by original packaging.
Medium: Painted Vinyl Cast Resin.
12.4 x 6.3 inches (applies to each individual).
New, unopened in its original box; excellent condition.
From a sold out edition of unknown. Stamped to the underside of foot.
Packed safely & professionally.
We are a trusted leading seller & expert in this category.
A leading artist of his generation, Brooklyn-based KAWS engages audiences beyond the museums and galleries in which he regularly exhibits. KAWS is perhaps best known for his iconic character, Companion, which is featured in key paintings, sculptures, products, and toy figures.
KAWS’ art possesses a sophisticated humor and thoughtful critique of consumer products. His bold, high-minded graphic language revitalizes figuration with big, bold gestures and keen, playful intricacy.
KAWS’ figures...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS - Along The Way - Black Version - brand new
By KAWS
Located in Dallas, TX
KAWS Along The Way - Black version
New & unopened in its original packaging.
Medium: Vinyl & Cast Resin
Provenance: Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Category
2010s Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS SMALL LIE complete set of 3 works (KAWS small lie companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS SMALL LIE: Complete Set of Three. Each new and sealed in their original packaging. These KAWS figurative pieces are a rendition of Small Lie produced in collaboration with Qatar Museums, a 30-feet-tall sculpture constructed out of African hardwood; the same size and material to create his previous SMALL LIE figure at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in England in 2016.
Medium: Painted vinyl cast resin.
Dimensions: 11 × 4.5 inches (applies to each individual).
New/unopened; excellent condition (applies to each).
Stamped on underside of each individual foot.
Executed in 2017, this work is from a sold out edition of unknown published by Medicom Japan.
KAWS (b. 1974, Jersey City, New Jersey; lives and works in Brooklyn, New York) is renowned for his prolific body of work that straddles the worlds of art and design to include paintings, murals, graphic and product design, street art, and large-scale sculptures. Over the last two decades KAWS has built a successful career with work that consistently shows his formal agility as an artist, as well as his underlying wit, irreverence, and affection for our times. His refined graphic language revitalizes figuration with both standout gestures and playful intricacies.
KAWS often appropriates and draws inspiration from pop culture animations, forming a unique artistic vocabulary across mediums. Admired for his larger-than-life sculptures and precise paintings that emphasize line and color, KAWS’s cast of hybrid cartoon characters are the strongest examples of his exploration of humanity. As seen in his collaborations with global brands, the artist’s imagery possesses a sophisticated humor and reveals a thoughtful interplay with consumer products. With their broad appeal, KAWS’s artworks are highly sought-after by collectors inside and outside of the art world, establishing him as a uniquely prominent artist and influence in today’s culture.
Related Categories
Kaws Companion. Kaws Pinocchio...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS SHARE KAWS TAKE (set of 2 black KAWS companions)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS SHARE, KAWS TAKE: Set of 2 black KAWS figurative sculptures, each new & unopened in original packaging.
Medium: Painted Vinyl Cast Resin (applies to each).
SHARE: 12.4 x 6.3 inches.
TAKE: 13.4 x 6 inches.
Condition: New, unopened in original box; excellent condition (applies to each).
Each from a sold out edition of unknown.
Stamped on the underside of each foot.
Shipped securely from New York.
KAWS uses two of his characters here to convey opposing human attitudes. In the sculpture TAKE, the BFF holds a child Companion defensively, pulling it back in a gesture of mistrust as if to prevent someone else from touching it; the child cowed looks to the ground, the fear is transferred. In SHARE, the Companion is secure and looks outward, holding but not attached to the toy in its hand. KAWS’ figures...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS "What Party" Brooklyn Museum Pink LIMITED EDITION Sculpture Street Art
By KAWS
Located in Draper, UT
KAWS WHAT PARTY (Pink):
KAWS orange WHAT PARTY Companion featuring KAWS' CHUM character in a hunched position. Published to commemorate the debut of KAWS’ larger...
Category
2010s Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl
Kaws art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic KAWS art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue, pink, purple and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by KAWS in paint, synthetic resin paint, vinyl paint and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the Pop Art style. Not every interior allows for large KAWS art, so small editions measuring 2 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Peter Max, Robert Indiana, and Heidler & Heeps. KAWS art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $125 and tops out at $200,000, while the average work can sell for $1,970.
Artists Similar to KAWS
Questions About KAWS Art
- What is so special about KAWS?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 27, 2024What is so special about KAWS is that the American artist creates imaginative pieces that appropriate pop phenomena like the Smurfs, the Simpsons and SpongeBob SquarePants. He is particularly well known for his toys, including his debut figure, Companion, inspired by Mickey Mouse. He has also teamed up with streetwear brands like A Bathing Ape and Supreme and collaborated with designer Kim Jones on the Dior Homme Spring/Summer 2019 collection. Find a range of KAWS art on 1stDibs.
- What kind of art does KAWS make?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Brooklyn, New York artist KAWS uses a variety of mediums for his work, with acrylic painting, screen prints and sculptures being the most predominant. On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic KAWS pieces from some of the world’s top sellers.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024The most popular KAWS art is a topic that is open to debate. However, his first-ever toy design is a favorite among collectors. Called COMPANION, it is an eight-inch-tall vinyl reimagining of Mickey Mouse with a skull-and-crossbones head and trademark XX eyes. COMPANION debuted with a limited run of 500 and sold out quickly. Find an assortment of KAWS figures on 1stDibs.
- What type of art is KAWS’s art?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024Many people consider KAWS’s art type to be Pop art. The style first emerged in the 1950s. In stark contrast to traditional artistic practice, Pop art’s practitioners drew on imagery from popular culture, using things like comic books, advertising, product packaging and other commercial media to create original paintings, prints and sculptures that celebrated ordinary life in the most literal way. In his work, KAWS similarly appropriates pop phenomena like Mickey Mouse, the Smurfs, the Simpsons and SpongeBob SquarePants. Shop a selection of KAWS art on 1stDibs.
- What does KAWS mean?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024The word KAWS means an American artist. Born Brian Donnelly, KAWS adopted the name when he was active as a graffiti artist in New Jersey and New York. In interviews, he has explained that KAWS has no particular meaning to him. He simply chose the name because he liked how the characters looked. He is most well known for his line of whimsical figures with double-X eyes. Explore a range of KAWS art on 1stDibs.
- What is KAWS art?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024KAWS art is the general term for works created by the American artist KAWS. He is best known for his more than 130 toy designs, which include such characters as Chum, Blitz, Be@rbrick, BFF and Milo, each immediately recognizable as his work by their XX eyes. In addition, KAWS produces sculptures, drawings, paintings and prints. On 1stDibs, shop a range of KAWS art.
- Are Bearbrick and KAWS the same?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 16, 2024No, Bearbrick and KAWS are not the same. However, they have collaborated with one another many times. KAWS is the pseudonym of the artist Brian Donnelly, while Bearbrick is a brand of collectible designer toys produced by the Japanese company MediCom Toy Incorporated. On 1stDibs, find a variety of KAWS art.
- What is a KAWS companion?1 AnswerIrena Orlov ArtMarch 1, 2021Kaws' Companion is a clown-like figure based on a Mickey Mouse with X-ed out eyes.
- What are KAWS figures?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A KAWS figure is a toy or figurine comparable to an action figure, created by the American artist, Brian Donnelly, who is known professionally as KAWS. Called ‘companions’, the figures are in KAWS’ signature style, and monster-size versions have been seen everywhere from Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbor to Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Shop a selection of KAWS pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.
- What is KAWS famous for?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024KAWS is famous for producing figures, toys, sculptures, drawings, paintings and prints that borrow from pop culture phenomena like the Smurfs, the Simpsons and SpongeBob SquarePants. In 1999, he partnered with Bounty Hunter, a Japanese toy and streetwear brand, to release his first toy. Called Companion, it was an 8-inch-tall vinyl reimagining of Mickey Mouse, with a skull-and-crossbones head and XX eyes. Companion debuted with a limited run of 500 and sold out quickly. The piece was the first of more than 130 toy designs by KAWS, which came to include such characters as Chum, Blitz, Be@rbrick, BFF and Milo, each immediately recognizable as KAWS figures by their XX eyes. Explore a selection of KAWS art on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 3, 2024How KAWS makes his sculptures varies. The New Jersey-born artist Brian “KAWS” Donnelly works with a variety of materials, including fiberglass, wood and bronze. By mixing up his techniques and experimenting with different mediums, KAWS can incorporate various colors and textures into his sculptures, figures and toys, and continues to innovate his practice.
In 1999, KAWS partnered with Bounty Hunter, a Japanese toy and streetwear brand, to release his first toy. Companion was the first of more than 130 toy designs, which came to include such characters as Chum, Blitz, Be@rbrick, BFF and Milo, each immediately recognizable as KAWS figures by their XX eyes. Fans have proved insatiable (and counterfeiters have since taken notice).
In 2017, MoMA’s online store announced the availability of a limited supply of KAWS Companion figures; as avid collectors logged on to stake their claim, the website crashed — multiple times.
Find authentic KAWS art on 1stDibs. - What does KAWS’s art mean?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024What KAWS’s art means is open to interpretation. In the late 1990s, the artist, a 1996 graduate of New York’s School of Visual Arts, was making a living as an illustrator for the animation studio Jumbo Pictures. Like young Hansel and Gretel with their trail of crumbs, KAWS would mark the morning route to his downtown Manhattan office with “subvertising,” “interrupting” fashion advertisements by adding his colorful character Bendy, its sinuous length sliding playfully around the likes of a Calvin Klein perfume bottle or supermodel Christy Turlington. Companion is now the most visible of the KAWS posse, appearing over the past decade in new postures and combinations in monumental works. KAWS’s visual language may be drawn from cartoons, but his work doesn’t necessarily evoke childlike joy. “My figures are not always reflecting the idealistic cartoon view that I grew up on,” he explained in the catalogue for an exhibition at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, in Texas. “Companion is more real in dealing with contemporary human circumstances . . . . I think when I’m making work it also often mirrors what’s going on with me at that time.” On 1stDibs, find a diverse assortment of KAWS art.
- Does KAWS make his sculptures?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, artist Brian Donnelly, known professionally as KAWS, does make his own art. He admits he has a regimented schedule now that he has children, and finds that this has made him more productive, allowing him to focus on sculptures and paintings in the mornings. On 1stDibs, find a variety of original artwork from top artists.
- What paint does KAWS use?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 16, 2024KAWS uses acrylic paint for many of his works. The artist has said in the past that he has custom paints produced for him by the company Golden. When painting his figurines, KAWS uses a technique that makes the brushstrokes virtually invisible. Find a variety of KAWS art on 1stDibs.
- Are KAWS limited edition?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, KAWS are always produced in limited edition runs. KAWS is a New York-based artist who designs limited edition toys and clothing. He is known for creating figurines that mix both high- and low-brow art. Widely popular with pop culture enthusiasts and collectors, KAWS art can only be found through select retailers. Find a range of KAWS art for sale on 1stDibs.
- What is the story behind KAWS?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022KAWS is an American artist, toy and clothing designer. Born in New Jersey under the name Brian Donnelly, he became interested in graffiti very early on. He earned a BFA and began working for Disney. His artwork gained popularity and he began traveling and designing toys and clothing while continuing art and sculptures. On 1stDibs, find a variety of original artwork from top artists.
- Who is the artist behind KAWS?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024The artist behind KAWS is Brian Donnelly. As a kid in Jersey City, New Jersey, he got into graffiti art, using KAWS as his tag. Today, KAWS creates a diverse range of art and design objects. There are KAWS figures and toys, sculptures, colorful drawings, paintings and prints that appropriate pop phenomena like the Smurfs, the Simpsons and SpongeBob SquarePants. On 1stDibs, shop a range of KAWS art.
- What is a KAWS FAMILY set?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023A KAWS FAMILY set is a collection of four sculptures created by artist Brian “KAWS” Donnelly that come in a set. The term family refers to the fact that the set comprises two large and two small figures, so side by side, they resemble parents and children. Donnelly released the sets on September 13, 2021, in an assortment of colorways. On 1stDibs, find a selection of authentic KAWS sculptures.
- What makes KAWS’s art unique?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024What makes KAWS’s art unique is the artist's innovative approach to his work. The American artist seamlessly blends elements of Pop art, street art and popular culture into his pieces. He is known for putting a creative spin on familiar characters and his playful figurines, which often feature double-X eyes. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of art by KAWS.
- What is KAWS Take open edition?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The KAWS Take open edition is a type of vinyl figurine sold as a decorative object or work of art. Arton Contemporary produces the figurines in limited quantities. The open edition Take debuted in 2020. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of KAWS art.