KAWS WHAT PARTY pink (KAWS companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Taipei Holiday Taipei & Japan set of 2 (KAWS Brown Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Holiday Taipei & KAWS Holiday Japan (set of 2 KAWS Companion works)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Holiday SPACE Companion (KAWS black space holiday)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Polyurethane
KAWS HOLIDAY UK set of 2 works (KAWS United Kingdom)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS UK Holiday Companion Brown (KAWS holiday)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS SEPARATED Companion (KAWS brown Separated Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS COMPANION 2020: Complete Set of 3 Works (KAWS 2020 set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Holiday Companion (KAWS holiday Hong Kong)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Hong Kong Holiday Companion (KAWS grey companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Holiday Taipei (KAWS brown Taipei Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Vinyl
KAWS Bus Stop 2002
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS WHAT PARTY Companion (KAWS black what party)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS What Party KAWS Chum (2 works)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS What Party & Chum (set of 2 works)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS SEPARATED Companion (KAWS black Separated Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS SEPARATED grey (KAWS Separated Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS CHUM & KAWS WHAT PARTY (set of 4 KAWS Companions)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS CHUM & KAWS What Party (set of 6 KAWS Companions)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS What Party KAWS Chum (KAWS companion set of 2 works)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS What Party KAWS Chum (KAWS set of 2 works)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS What Party KAWs Chum (set of 2 KAWs companion works)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS What Party KAWS Chum (KAWS companion set of 2 works)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
$1,020Sale Price|20% Off
KAWS - Companion - Brown version- MOMA 2017 - Painted Cast Vinyl
By KAWS
Located in Dallas, TX
KAWS's cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his o...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Taipei Holiday Companion set of 2 (KAWS companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Holiday Japan: set of 2 works (KAWS Mount Fuji Japan)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Taipei Holiday Companion Set (set of 3 KAWS companions)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS COMPANION 2020 (KAWS grey 2020 companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
$555Sale Price|41% Off
KAWS COMPANION 2020 (KAWS black companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
$1,836Sale Price|20% Off
KAWS - Set of 2 Companion Blush (Flayed) and Companion Blush- Painted Cast Vinyl
By KAWS
Located in Dallas, TX
KAWS's cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his ...
Resin, Vinyl
$1,020Sale Price|20% Off
KAWS - Companion Blush (Flayed), 2017 - Painted Cast Vinyl
By KAWS
Located in Dallas, TX
KAWS's cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his o...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Holiday SPACE Companion (KAWS silver holiday space)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Polyurethane
KAWS WHAT PARTY white (KAWS white what party)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS SEPARATED KAWS Changbai (KAWS companion set of 2 works)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Holiday Companion (Set of 2 works)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS CHUM KAWS WHAT PARTY complete set of 10 (KAWS Companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS WHAT PARTY set of 2 works (KAWS Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS UK Holiday Companion set of 2 works (KAWS United Kingdom)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS UK Holiday Companion set of 2 works (KAWS United Kingdom)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Holiday UK set of 2 works (KAWS United Kingdom)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS WHAT PARTY complete set of 5 (KAWS Companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS WHAT PARTY set of 2 works (KAWS Companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS WHAT PARTY (set of 2 works)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS WHAT PARTY set of 2 works (KAWS Companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS SEPARATED complete set of 3 works (KAWS Separated Companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS SEPARATED Companion (set of 2 works)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS SEPARATED (set of 2 works; KAWS Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS SEPARATED set of 2 works (KAWS Separated Companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS UK Holiday Black (KAWS Holiday UK)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS WHAT PARTY set of 3 works (KAWS Companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS UK Holiday set (KAWS Holiday United Kingdom)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS HOLIDAY UK set of 3 works (KAWS United Kingdom)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
His cartoonish style—including his best-known characters with X-ed out eyes—has its roots in his early career as a street artist, when he began replacing advertisements with his own,...
Resin, Vinyl
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.
KAWS art toys have developed an avid audience in recent decades, and as in any robust collectible market, counterfeiters have followed the mania. Of course, you don’t have to worry about that on 1stDibs, where all our sellers are highly vetted.
From graffiti tagger to hypebeast obsession to auction hero — we chart the artist’s rise and his widening influence.