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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
Dealer: Lot 180
KAWS CHUM white (KAWS Chum Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS CHUM Companion 2022 (white): Published by KAWS to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his famed KAWS’ Chum character; "I can remember clearly packing an...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS Companion: set of 10 works (KAWS Brown Companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Companion 2016-2021: A sharply curated set of 10 distinguished individual Brown KAWS Companions new & unopened in original packaging. Dimensions as follows: KAWS Clean Slate, 2...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS Companion black: set of 10 works (KAWS Black Companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Companion 2017-2022: A sharply curated set of 10 distinguished individual Black KAWS Companions new & unopened in original packaging. Dimensions as follows: KAWS Gone 2019: 14....
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Street Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS The Promise set of 2 works (KAWS Companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS The Promise (set of 2 works): A unique KAWS Companion set in the artist’s signature brown & grey color ways. KAWS The Promise features a blue &...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS WHAT PARTY white (KAWS white what party)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS WHAT PARTY Companion: This KAWS Companion vinyl sculpture features KAWS' CHUM character in a hunched position. Published to commemorate the debut of KAWS’ larger scale sculptur...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS WHAT PARTY (KAWS companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS WHAT PARTY (orange): KAWS orange WHAT PARTY Companion featuring KAWS' CHUM character in a hunched position. Published to commemorate the debut of KAWS...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Vinyl, Resin

KAWS CHUM black (KAWS Chum Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS CHUM Companion 2022 (black): Published by KAWS to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his famed KAWS’ Chum character; "I can remember clearly packing and shipping the first CHUM...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS Passing Through Companion 2018 (KAWS companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Grey Passing Through Companion 2018. New and sealed in its original packaging. The most iconic of the KAWS Companions, this passing through piece was published by KAWS One, and has since sold out. Medium: Painted vinyl cast resin figure. Year: 2018. Dimensions: 8 × 3.4 × 5 inches. New, unopened in its original packaging. From a sold out edition of unknown. Stamped by artist on underside of both feet. Safely packed and shipped from New York. 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 Retna. Street Art. Damien Hirst. Banksy. Kaws Companion. Kaws Star...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS Holiday Singapore complete set of 3 works (KAWS Singapore companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Holiday Singapore (KAWS Singapore): complete set of 3 works: A compete set of 3 KAWS Holiday Companions new in their original packaging. KAWS Sing...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Vinyl, Resin

KAWS SMALL LIE set of 2 works (KAWS Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS SMALL LIE 2017: Set of 2 works. Each new and sealed in their original packaging. These KAWS figurative pieces are a rendition of Small Lie produced in collaboration with Qatar M...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS Holiday Companion (KAWS brown holiday companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS 'Holiday' Companion Seoul: This figurine was published by All Rights Reserved to commemorate the debut of a large scale KAWS floating figure for Seoul’s Seokchon Lake during summer 2018. New in its original packaging. Medium: Vinyl figure. Year: 2018. Dimensions of figurine: 8.25 x 1.5 inches (can also be displayed in package, which measures 11 inches in height). Unopened; excellent condition. From a sold out/ out of print edition of unknown. More on KAWS Holiday Companion: Seokchon Lake, which is located in the South Korean capital's Songpa district, previously hosted the world-famous inflatable "Rubber Duck" on a tour of its waters in 2014. "I just wanted to do a water piece," said KAWS, "I was just thinking about being on vacation, and when you just drift in a pool and stare upwards, and that's really the beginning of the work. I feel like, in these times, we need things to help us relax." (source: CNN) KAWS is a fine artist, illustrator, painter, sculptor, product designer, and toymaker. 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, masterful acrylic paintings in the early 1990s. Related Categories Shepard Fairey. Damien Hirst. Pop Art. Kaws Figurative sculpture. Kaws open edition...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS Holiday Companion (KAWS brown companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS 'Holiday' Companion: This figurine was published by All Rights Reserved to commemorate the debut of a large scale KAWS floating figure for Seoul’s Seokchon Lake during summer 20...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Street Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS Small Lie Grey (KAWS grey companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS SMALL LIE Grey: Among KAWS’s signature “Companions,” Small Lie has the most childlike resonance. Clothed in overall shorts, the Pinocchio-insp...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS TIME OFF (KAWS Time Off companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS TIME OFF Black: A highly decorative KAWS Companion featuring KAWS’ much popularized BFF Companion in a resting position. This highly collectible KAW...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS KACHAMUKKU (complete set of two works)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Kachamukku 2022: complete set of 2 works: KAWS Kachamukku was born out of a unique collaboration between KAWS and the popular children’s Japanese ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Vinyl, Nylon

KAWS Companion 2016 (KAWS blush)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Red Blush Companion. New and sealed in its original packaging. Published by Medicom Japan in conjunction with the exhibition, KAWS: Where The End Starts at t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS FAMILY (brown KAWS Family companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS FAMILY 2021: A well-received work and variation of KAWS' larger FAMILY sculpture - this highly collectible KAWS Companion set was published on the occasion of KAWS’ first large ...
Category

2010s Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS SEPARATED grey (KAWS Separated Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS SEPARATED COMPANION: New & unopened in its original packaging: This highly collectible grey KAWS SEPARATED figure is derived from the Brooklyn based artist’s larger scale sculpture of same (originally constructed in 2019), and is a key highlight of the major 2021 KAWS Brooklyn...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS Clean Slate Companion (KAWS brown clean slate)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Clean Slate (Brown), new & unopened in its original packaging. A well-received work and variation of KAWS' large scale Clean Slate sculpture - a key ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Vinyl, Resin

KAWS CHUM pink (KAWS Chum Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS CHUM Companion 2022 (pink): Published by KAWS to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his famed KAWS’ Chum character; "I can remember clearly packing and...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS TIME OFF blue (KAWS Time Off companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS TIME OFF Blue: A highly decorative KAWS Companion featuring KAWS’ much popularized BFF Companion in a resting position. This brightly colored, highl...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS Holiday Companion (KAWS holiday Hong Kong)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Hon Kong 'Holiday' Companion 2019: This figurine was published by All Rights Reserved to commemorate the debut of a large scale KAWS floating figure in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour in 2019. New in its original packaging. Medium: Vinyl art toy. Dimensions: 8.5 x 1.5 inches. New in original packaging; excellent condition (never displayed). From a sold out edition of unknown. Accompanied by publisher card with printed artist signature (image 4). KAWS is a fine artist, illustrator, painter, sculptor, product designer, and toymaker. 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, masterful acrylic paintings in the early 1990s. Related Categories Street Art. Shepard Fairey. Damien Hirst. Pop Art. Kaws sculpture. Grey Kaws. Kaws Hong Kong. Kaws holiday...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS HOLIDAY Changbai white (KAWS white chanbgai)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Holiday Changbai Mountain (KAWS Changbai white): A beautifully composed snowy-white KAWS COMPANION published to commemorate KAWS' larger-scale sculptu...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS The Promise black (KAWS black Promise)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS The Promise (black): A unique KAWS Companion featuring a blue & green globe being affectionately shared between parent & child. This timeless, hi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS HOLIDAY Changbai: set of 2 works (KAWS chanbgai)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Holiday Changbai Mountain: set of 2 works (Black & White Changbai): A beautifully composed KAWS COMPANION set published to commemorate KAWS'...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS exhibition poster 2001 (KAWS Tokyo 2001)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Tokyo First Exhibit Poster 2001: 2001 KAWS Parco Gallery exhibition poster featuring a photograph by fashion photographer David Sims reimagined by KAWS in his classic 1990's interventionist style. A KAWS Kimpsons Krusty the Clown graces the background while a signature iconic KAWS Bendy wraps itself around the model. Reverse side features exhibition info from Parco Gallery, including Supreme and A Bathing Ape...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Offset, Lithograph

KAWS Red Blush Companion 2016 (KAWS blush)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Blush Companion 2016. New and sealed in its original packaging. Published by Medicom Japan in conjunction with the exhibition, KAWS: Where The End Starts at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (2016). Medium: Vinyl Paint, Cast Resin. Year: 2016. Dimensions: 11 × 5 inches. New in original packaging; excellent condition. Stamped on the underside of foot from a sold out edition of unknown. 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 Shepard Fairey. Damien Hirst. KAWS red...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS COMPANION 2020: Complete Set of 3 Works (KAWS 2020 set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS 2020 Companion: Complete Set of 3 Works: KAWS COMPANION 2020 was created by KAWS to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his signature figure,...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Vinyl, Resin

KAWS The Aldrich 2011 (vintage KAWS announcement)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum (June 27, 2010 to January 2, 2011, Ridgefield, CT): Rare original program to KAWS' first solo exhibition. Staple-bound museum program; approximately 10-15 pages featuring photos & text highlighting the evolution of the artist. Offset printed; 6.5 x 10.5 inches (folded closed). Very good overall condition. Scarce. About KAWS: “KAWS” are a graffiti artist, illustrator, painter, sculptor, product designer and toymaker. 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, masterful acrylic paintings in the early, 1990s. Since, Kaws has embraced the commercialist spirit of Claes Oldenburg and Takashi Murakami, designing everything from Kanye West album covers to NIKE sneakers...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Lithograph, Offset

KAWS TIME OFF set of 3 works (KAWS Time Off companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS TIME OFF (complete set of 3 works): A highly decorative KAWS Companion set featuring KAWS’ much popularized BFF Companion in a resting position. These brightly colored, highly collectible KAWS Companion art toys were published ahead of the exhibition: KAWS: TIME OFF at Skarstedt gallery, Paris (2023) and offer a meditative & playful interpretation of time. Each presented new in original packaging. Medium: Vinyl. Set of 3 individual works. Year: 2023. Dimensions: 7 × 11 x 5.9 inches inches (applies to each individual work). Each new and accompanied by original packaging. Never displayed. Stamped on the underside (applies to each individual work). From a sold out edition of unknown. 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...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS BFF Companions (KAWS BFF vinyl Set of 2)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Black & Pink 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 neighborhood. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS TIME OFF set of 2 works (KAWS Time Off companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS TIME OFF (set of 2 works): A highly decorative KAWS Companion set featuring KAWS’ much popularized BFF Companion in a resting position. These bright...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Vinyl, Resin

KAWS CHUM set of 5 works (KAWS Companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS CHUM Companion 2022: set of 5 works: This complete set of 5 KAWS CHUM Companions, was published by KAWS to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his famed Chum character; "I can r...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS SEPARATED black (KAWS black Separated Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS SEPARATED COMPANION: New & unopened in its original packaging: This highly collectible black KAWS SEPARATED figure is derived from the Br...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Vinyl, Resin

KAWS TIME OFF set of 2 works (KAWS Time Off companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS TIME OFF (set of 2 works): A highly decorative KAWS Companion set featuring KAWS’ much popularized BFF Companion in a resting position. These bright...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS FAMILY (grey KAWS Family companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS FAMILY 2021: A well-received work and variation of KAWS' larger FAMILY sculpture - this highly collectible KAWS Companion set was published on the occ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS SEPARATED Companion (KAWS black Separated Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS SEPARATED COMPANION: New & unopened in its original packaging: This highly collectible black KAWS SEPARATED figure is derived from the Brooklyn based artist’s larger scale sculpture of same (originally constructed in 2019), and is a key highlight of the major 2021 KAWS Brooklyn...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS Holiday Taipei (KAWS brown Taipei Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Brown Holiday Companion (KAWS Taipei): This figurine features KAWS' signature character COMPANION in a resting seated position. The piece was published by All Rights Reserved to commemorate the debut of KAWS’ largest sculptural endeavor to date: a 36 meter long KAWS Companion at Taipei’s Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. New in a exclusive hard-shell KAWS designed packaging. Medium: Vinyl figure. Year: 2019. Dimensions: 5.5 x 7 inches. New unopened in original packaging; never displayed; excellent condition. From a sold out edition of unknown. Stamped on the underside. Includes certificate card (last image). Will look fantastic as a shelf piece or hung in its original packaging. KAWS is a fine artist, illustrator, painter, sculptor, product designer, and toymaker. 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, masterful acrylic paintings in the early 1990s. Related Categories Shepard Fairey. Damien Hirst. Pop Art. Kaws sculpture. Kaws Passing Through. Kaws Resting Place...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Vinyl

KAWS Companion 2016 (KAWS Flayed)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Blush Flayed Companion 2016: New and sealed in its original packaging. Published by Medicom Japan in conjunction with the exhibition, KAWS: Where The End Starts at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. ThIs figurine has since sold out. Medium: Vinyl paint, cast resin. Year: 2016. Dimensions: 11 × 5 × 3 in (27.9 × 12.7 × 7.6 cm). New in original packaging; never opened. Stamped on the underside of foot from a sold out edition of unknown. Shipped securely from New York. We are a leading seller in this category, also specializing in Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Andy Warhol & more. 1stDibs seller since 2016. 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...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS TIME OFF set of 2 works (KAWS Time Off companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS TIME OFF (set of 2 works): A highly decorative KAWS Companion set featuring KAWS’ much popularized BFF Companion in a resting position. These brightly colored, highly collectibl...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Vinyl, Resin

KAWS Taipei black (KAWS Holiday Taipei)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Black Holiday Companion (KAWS Taipei): This figure features KAWS' signature character COMPANION in a resting seated position. KAWS Holiday Taipei was published in 2019 to commem...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Vinyl, Resin

KAWS WHAT PARTY Companion (KAWS black what party)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS WHAT PARTY Black: This KAWS Companion vinyl sculpture features KAWS' signature CHUM character in a sloping position. Published to commemora...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS The Promise: complete set of 3 works (KAWS Companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS The Promise (complete set of 3 works): A unique KAWS Companion set in the artist’s signature brown, black & grey color ways. KAWS The Promise features a blue & green globe being...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Vinyl, Resin

KAWS Holiday Companion (KAWS brown holiday companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS 'Holiday' Companion Seoul: This figurine was published by All Rights Reserved to commemorate the debut of a large scale KAWS floating figure for Seoul’s Seokchon Lake during summer 2018. New in its original packaging. Medium: Vinyl figure. Year: 2018. Dimensions of figurine: 8.25 x 1.5 inches (can also be displayed in package, which measures 11 inches in height). Unopened; excellent condition. From a sold out/ out of print edition of unknown. More on KAWS Holiday Companion: Seokchon Lake, which is located in the South Korean capital's Songpa district, previously hosted the world-famous inflatable "Rubber Duck" on a tour of its waters in 2014. "I just wanted to do a water piece," said KAWS, "I was just thinking about being on vacation, and when you just drift in a pool and stare upwards, and that's really the beginning of the work. I feel like, in these times, we need things to help us relax." (source: CNN) KAWS is a fine artist, illustrator, painter, sculptor, product designer, and toymaker. 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, masterful acrylic paintings in the early 1990s. Related Categories Shepard Fairey. Damien Hirst. Pop Art. Kaws Figurative sculpture. Kaws open edition...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS Sesame Street box set (KAWS Sesame Street complete set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Sesame Street: Complete Set of 5 plush figures: KAWS’ timeless interpretation of the 5 most popular Sesame Street characters – Elmo, Bert, Earn...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Cotton

KAWS WHAT PARTY pink (KAWS companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS WHAT PARTY (pink): KAWS pink WHAT PARTY Companion featuring KAWS' CHUM character in a hunched position. Published to commemorate the debut of KAWS...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS TAKE Companion (KAWS black companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS TAKE (Black) new & unopened in its original packaging. A standout KAWS Companion figure and variation of KAWS' large scale TAKE sculpture - a key highlight of the exhibition, '...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Vinyl, Resin

KAWS TOGETHER Black (KAWS Black Together Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Black Together Companion 2018: This rare 2018 KAWS TOGETHER features the artist's iconic “Companions” interlocked in a permanent hug. KAWS fir...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS Passing Through Companion 2018 (KAWS brown passing through companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Passing Through Companion 2018. New and sealed in its original packaging. The most iconic of KAWS Companions, this Passing Through figure was published by KAWS One, and has since sold out. Medium: Vinyl Paint, Cast Resin. Year: 2018. Dimensions: 8 × 3.4 inches. New, unopened and in its original packaging. Stamped on the underside of foot from a sold edition of unknown. 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...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS Along The Way Grey (grey KAWS Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Along The Way (Grey). New and unopened in its original box: This scarce, highly collectible KAWS Along The Way figure is a rendition of the artist's 2013 18 foot wood sculpture...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS COMPANION 2020 (KAWS brown 2020 companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS 2020 Companion (Brown): KAWS COMPANION 2020 was created by KAWS to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his signature figure, Companion — and as cultura...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS UK Holiday Companion Grey (KAWS holiday)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS: HOLIDAY United Kingdom Grey (KAWS UK): KAWS' signature character COMPANION presented in an upright standing position with its eyes covered. New in their...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Vinyl, Resin

KAWS SEPARATED Companion (KAWS brown Separated Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS SEPARATED COMPANION: New & unopened in its original packaging: This highly collectible brown KAWS SEPARATED figure is derived from the Br...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Vinyl, Resin

KAWS Gold Holiday SPACE Companion (KAWS space)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS:HOLIDAY SPACE (Gold), is a celebration of 20 years of the KAWS Companion. Using a sounding balloon, the KAWS:HOLIDAY SPACE was sent up 41.5km into the stratosphere before retuning to Earth. Reminiscent of KAWS’ MTV VMA Moonman trophy (2013), the sculpture features a derailed space suit complete with hoses, valves and more. A standout KAWS display piece constructed with a bright metallic mirrored feel and much heavier body than the artist’s vinyl pieces. Medium: Polyurethane Figure. Year: 2020. Dimensions: 11.5 inches in height. New in original packaging; never displayed; excellent condition. From a sold out edition of unknown. Published by All Rights Reserved. Accompanied by a COA from Lot 180 Gallery New York. Artist Statement: “So many projects have been cancelled this year. I wanted to create one that could be experienced safely from home,” says KAWS. “Because this year marks 20 years since I created COMPANION, I tried to find a way around all the restrictions and do something special. I felt so confined the past few months that creating a project like this has really given me a chance to escape.” KAWS is a fine artist, illustrator, painter, sculptor, product designer, and toymaker. 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, masterful acrylic paintings in the early 1990s. Related Categories Takashi Murakami. Street Art. Shepard Fairey. Damien Hirst. Pop Art. Kaws figurative sculpture. Kaws metallic. Kaws MTV. Kaws gold...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art

Materials

Polyurethane

KAWS HOLIDAY Changbai black (KAWS black chanbgai)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Holiday Changbai Mountain (KAWS black Changbai): A beautifully composed KAWS COMPANION published to commemorate KAWS' larger-scale sculpture...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Vinyl, Resin

KAWS COMPANION 2020 (KAWS black companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS 2020 Companion (Black): KAWS COMPANION 2020 was created by KAWS to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his signature figure, Companion — and as cultural commentary on a year we will all never forget. KAWS' COMPANION 2020 was rendered laying down, appearing exhausted and defeated. This much historical KAWS set is rich with deep personal meaning to the artist, and is also very well sized in comparison to his other figures at 17" in length. New in original packaging. Medium: Painted vinyl cast resin figure. Dimensions: 17 x 8.75 inches. Accompanied by its original box; never displayed or opened; excellent condition. From a sold out edition of unknown. Stamped on the underside. Artist Statement: “2020, what a year... On the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of COMPANION I am happy to release COMPANION 2020... Thank you for all your support over the past 20 years..." KAWS is a fine artist, illustrator, painter, sculptor, product designer, and toymaker. 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, masterful acrylic paintings in the early 1990s. Related Categories Takashi Murakami. Street Art. Shepard Fairey. Damien Hirst. Pop Art. Kaws figurative sculpture. Kaws metallic. Banksy. Kaws resting...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Vinyl, Resin

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 the stratosphere before retuning to Earth. Reminiscent of KAWS’ MTV VMA Moonman trophy (2013), the sculpture features a derailed space suit complete with hoses, valves and more. A standout KAWS display piece constructed with a bright metallic mirrored feel as well as a significantly heavier body compared to the artist’s traditional vinyl figures. New/never displayed & accompanied by original packaging. Medium: Polyurethane Figure. Silver color way. Year: 2020. Dimensions: 11.5 inches in height. New in original packaging; excellent condition. From a sold out edition of unknown. Published by All Rights Reserved. Artist Statement: “So many projects have been cancelled this year. I wanted to create one that could be experienced safely from home,” says KAWS. “Because this year marks 20 years since I created COMPANION, I tried to find a way around all the restrictions and do something special. I felt so confined the past few months that creating a project like this has really given me a chance to escape.” KAWS is a fine artist, illustrator, painter, sculptor, product designer, and toymaker. 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, masterful acrylic paintings in the early 1990s. Related Categories Takashi Murakami. Street Art. Shepard Fairey. Damien Hirst. Pop Art. Kaws figurative sculpture. Kaws metallic. Kaws MTV. Kaws gold...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art

Materials

Polyurethane

KAWS GONE set of 2 (KAWS Gone companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS GONE: Set of 2 (Grey & Brown), new & unopened in their original packaging. A well-received work and variation of KAWS' large scale GONE sculpture - a ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art

Materials

Resin, 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.
Questions About KAWS Art
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Brooklyn, 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 27, 2024
    What 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024
    The 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024
    Many 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.
  • Irena Orlov ArtMarch 1, 2021
    Kaws' Companion is a clown-like figure based on a Mickey Mouse with X-ed out eyes.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024
    KAWS 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 ExpertMay 14, 2024
    There is no owner of KAWS. KAWS is not a company or a business; it is the name of artist Brian Donnelly. He got his start as a graffiti artist in New Jersey and used the tag KAWS to sign his work 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 culture phenomena like the Smurfs, the Simpsons and SpongeBob SquarePants. Shop a variety of KAWS art on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024
    The 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024
    KAWS 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 16, 2024
    No, 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    KAWS 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023
    A 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024
    The 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 3, 2024
    How 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024
    What 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 16, 2024
    KAWS 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    The 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024
    What 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.

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