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 black Companion 2016 (black KAWS companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Black 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 figure has since sold out.
Medium: Painted Vinyl, Cast Resin.
Year: 2016.
Dimensions: 11 × 5 × 3 in (27.9 × 12.7 × 7.6 cm).
New/unopened; excellent condition.
Stamped on the underside of the 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 a multi-faceted artist straddling the worlds of art and design in his prolific body of work that ranges from paintings, murals, and large-scale sculptures to product design and toy-making. His iconic “XX” signature has its roots in the beginning of his career as a street artist in the 1990s, when he began altering found advertisements by incorporating his own masterful paintings. Evoking the sensibilities of Pop artists like Andy Warhol and Claes Oldenburg, KAWS possesses a sophisticated humor and thoughtful interplay with consumer products and collaborations with global brands. He often draws inspiration and appropriates from popular culture animations to form a unique artistic vocabulary and influential cast of hybrid cartoon and human characters.
Related Categories:
Takashi Murakami. Shepard Fairey. Damien Hirst. Pop Art. Kaws sculpture. Kaws open...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Black Companions: set of 10 (KAWS Companion 2018-2021)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Companion 2018-2021:
A curated set of 10 individual Black KAWS Companions new & unopened in original packaging.
KAWS Clean Slate, 2018: 14.25 x 8 inches.
KAWS Along The Way 2019: 10.5 x 9 inches.
KAWS Holiday Space 2020: 11.5 inches in height.
KAWS What Party: 11 x 5 inches.
KAWS Holiday Taipei: 5.5 x 7 inches.
KAWS Share: 12.4 x 6.3 inches.
KAWS Separated 2021: 7.75 x 6 inches.
KAWS BFF: 13 x 5.7 inches
KAWS 2020...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS: HOLIDAY UK complete set of 3 works (KAWS United Kingdom)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS: HOLIDAY United Kingdom: Complete Set of 3 works (KAWS UK):
KAWS' signature character COMPANION presented in an upright standing position with its eyes covered. 3 individual works (black, brown, & grey), each new in their original packaging - published by All Rights Reserved to commemorate the debut of KAWS’ sculptural hot-air balloon — one of the world’s largest at 42 meters tall, flying over the English country-side of Bristol. Each figure comes individually housed in a standout KAWS designed hard case and collector's card.
Medium: Set of 3 Painted cast resin vinyl figures.
Dimensions: 12 inches in height (applies to each individual piece).
New, never displayed; accompanied by original packaging.
Stamped on the underside from a sold out edition of unknown.
Includes artist card as pictured.
A great wall or shelf set that would look fantastic displayed either in or out of the case.
KAWS UK Holiday (further background):
The sculptural hot-air balloon KAWS: HOLIDAY UK — one of the world’s largest at 42 meters tall — reimagines the artist’s signature work, COMPANION, in larger-than-life proportions. KAWS first set flight to his unique flying creation in Bristol, allowing his Holiday Companion to soar miles above breathtaking greenery, dominating the British skies in its debut.
KAWS 'Holiday' first debuted at Seokchon Lake in Seoul in 2018 and these large inflatable real life works have since been exhibited in Hong Kong, Taipei, and Virginia Beach...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS HOLIDAY Companion: set of 3 works (KAWS grey Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Holiday Companions: 2019:
A curated set of 3 individual grey KAWS Companions new & unopened in original packaging. Each published in 2019 with additional info as follows:
KAWS Holiday Hong Kong 8.5 x 1.5 inches. Published in conjunction with 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 Grey Companion 2016: set of 2 works (KAWS grey companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Companion Grey: set of 2 individual works; 2016. Each new and sealed in their original packaging. Published by Medicom Japan in conjunction with the exhibition, KAWS: Where The ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS Flayed Companions 2016: complete set of 4 works (KAWS companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Companion 2016: Complete Set of 4 Flayed Companions. Each, new and sealed in original packaging. Published by Medicom Japan in conjunction with the exhibition, KAWS: Where The End Starts at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth in 2016. New/never displayed & accompanied by original packaging.
Medium: Vinyl paint, cast resin.
Year: 2016.
Dimensions for each individual work: 11 × 5 inches (27.9 × 12.7 × 7.6 cm).
New/unopened; excellent condition.
Stamped by artist on the underside of each foot; from a sold out edition of unknown.
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:
KAWS Companion. KAWS dissected...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS SEPARATED Companion (set of 2 works)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS SEPARATED (set of 2 works: brown & grey): each new & unopened in original packaging:
This highly collectible KAWS SEPARATED set of 2, is derived fr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS UK Holiday set (KAWS Holiday United Kingdom)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS: HOLIDAY United Kingdom: Complete set of 3 works (KAWS Holiday UK):
KAWS' signature character COMPANION presented in an upright standing positio...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Companion 2016: set of 6 works (KAWS Flayed KAWS full body 2016)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Companion 2016: Set of 6 works. Each new and sealed in original packaging. Published by Medicom Japan in conjunction with the exhibition, KAWS: Where The End Starts at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. These figurines have since sold out. Set includes 3 colors: Black, Brown and Grey, each in two variations (KAWS full body and KAWS flayed). A standout, definitive KAWS Companion set that would look excellent displayed. New/never displayed & accompanied by original packaging.
Medium: Vinyl Paint, Cast Resin.
Year: 2016.
Dimensions (applies to each individual): 11 × 5 inches.
Each new, unopened in in their original packaging.
Stamped on the underside of each foot from a sold out edition of unknown.
Provenance: MoMa New York.
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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS SMALL LIE Brown (KAWS brown companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS SMALL LIE Brown:
Among KAWS’s signature “Companions,” Small Lie has the most childlike resonance. Clothed in overall shorts, the Pinocchio-inspired figure bows its head in shame as if hiding from a parent after creating trouble. KAWS debuted this character at Yorkshire Sculpture Park in 2016, as a 30-foot-tall version made of African hardwood. The following year, KAWS released 11-inch grey, brown, and black versions of the figure, produced in collaboration with Medicom Toy.
Medium: Painted vinyl cast resin.
Year: 2017.
Dimensions: 11 × 4.5 inches.
New/unopened; excellent condition.
Stamped on the underside of foot 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. Shepard Fairey. Street Art. Damien Hirst. KAWS Pinocchio...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Street Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS SEPARATED (set of 2 works; KAWS Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS SEPARATED (Set of 2 works): each new & unopened in original packaging:
These highly collectible KAWS SEPARATED works are 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 Taipei Holiday Companion Set (set of 3 KAWS companions)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Holiday Companion, Complete Set of 3 (KAWS Taipei):
KAWS' signature character COMPANION presented in a resting seated position. 3 individual pieces (black, brown, & grey). Each 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. The set comes individually housed in custom KAWS designed packaging.
Medium: Set of 3 Painted cast resin vinyl figures.
Dimensions: 5.5 x 7 x 5.5 inches (applies to each individual)
New, unopened; excellent condition.
From a sold out un-numbered edition.
Stamped on the underside. Includes certificate card (last image).
A great wall or shelf set that would look fantastic displayed either in or out of the case.
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. Retna. Shepard Fairey. Pop Art. Kaws sculpture. Kaws open edition...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS Brown Companions 2016: set of 2 (KAWS brown flayed companions)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Companions 2016 (Set of 2 works):
KAWS Brown Flayed & KAWS Brown full body - each, new and sealed in their original packaging. These iconic KAWS figura...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS: HOLIDAY JAPAN Mount Fuji Ceramic Plate Set (Set of 4)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS: HOLIDAY JAPAN Mount Fuji Ceramic Plate Set (Set of 4):
This standout KAWS ceramic plate set was published by All Rights Reserved to commemorate the ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Brown Companions: set of 4 works (KAWS Companion 2016-2019)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Companion 2016-2019:
A curated set of 4 individual Brown KAWS Companions new & unopened in original packaging. Dimensions as follows:
KAWS Clean Slate, 2018: 14.25 x 8 x 8 inch...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS Brown Companions: set of 4 (KAWS Companion 2016-2019)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Companion 2016-2019:
A curated set of 4 individual Brown KAWS Companions new & unopened in original packaging.
KAWS Clean Slate, 2018: 14.25 x 8 x 8 inches.
KAWS Brown Compan...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS WHAT PARTY set of 3 works (KAWS Companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS WHAT PARTY (Set of 3 works: orange, pink & yellow):
3 individual KAWS Companions featuring KAWS' CHUM character in a hunched position. Published to commemorate the debut of KAW...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS SEPARATED complete set of 3 works (KAWS Separated set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS SEPARATED (Complete Set of 3 Works): each new & unopened in original packaging:
This highly collectible KAWS SEPARATED set is derived from the Broo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Black Companions: set of 4 (KAWS Companion 2016-2019)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Companion 2016-2019:
A curated set of 4 individual Black KAWS Companions new & unopened in original packaging.
KAWS Clean Slate, 2018: 14.25 x 8 x 8 inches.
KAWS Black Compan...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS SEPARATED complete set of 3 works (KAWS Separated Companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS SEPARATED (Complete Set of 3 Works): each new & unopened in original packaging:
This highly collectible KAWS SEPARATED set is derived from the Broo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS WHAT PARTY set of 2 works (KAWS Companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS WHAT PARTY (Set of 2 works: orange & yellow)
2 individual KAWS Companions featuring KAWS' CHUM character in a hunched position. Published to commemorate the debut of KAWS’ large...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Clean Slate Black (KAWS black clean slate companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Clean Slate (Black), 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 mu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS Small Lie set of 2 (KAWS Companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Small Lie Companion: Set of 2 works (brown and grey). Each new and sealed in their original packaging.
Among KAWS’s signature “Companions,” Small Lie has the most childlike resonance. Clothed in overall shorts, the Pinocchio-inspired figure bows...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS Flayed Companions 2016: set of 2 (KAWS brown black flayed)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Flayed Companion: Set of 2 (KAWS Black & Brown Flayed). Each, new and sealed in their original packaging. Published by Medicom Japan in conjunction with the exhibition, KAWS: Where The End Starts at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth in 2016. These figurines have since sold out.
Medium: Vinyl paint, cast resin.
Year: 2016.
Dimensions: 11 × 5 × 3 in (applies to each individual).
New/unopened; excellent condition.
Stamped by artist on underside of each foot; from a sold out & out of print edition of unknown.
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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS TAKE set of 3 (KAWS Take companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS TAKE:
Complete set of 3 KAWS TAKE Companions new & unopened in original packaging.
A well-received KAWS figurative piece & variation of KAWS' large scale ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS Flayed Companions 2016 (set of 2 KAWS flayed companions)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Flayed Companion: Set of 2. KAWS grey flayed & KAWS brown flayed. Each, new and sealed in their original packaging. Published by Medicom Japan in conj...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS TAKE set of 2 works (KAWS Take companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS TAKE: Set of 2 Works - each new in original packaging.
These standout KAWS figurative pieces are a variation of KAWS' large scale TAKE sculpture - a key highlight of the exhibi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Companion 2016 (set of 3 KAWS Flayed companions)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Flayed Companion 2016:
Set of 3 individual works. KAWS Black Flayed, KAWS Brown Flayed & KAWS Grey Flayed Companions - each, new and sealed in origin...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS Along The Way Brown (KAWS brown Along The Way 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 ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Holiday Japan complete set of 3 (KAWS Holiday Mount Fuji Japan)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Holiday Companion Japan: Complete Set of 3 (KAWS Mount Fuji):
This sold out complete set features KAWS' signature character COMPANION in a resting position. These figurines wer...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Street Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Black Companion 2016: set of 2 works (KAWS Companion black)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Companion, Black Flayed & Black full body 2016 (set of 2 individual pieces). Each new and sealed in original packaging. Published by Medicom Japan in conjunction with the exhibi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS WHAT PARTY complete set of 5 (KAWS Companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS WHAT PARTY, Complete Set of 5:
5 individual KAWS Companions featuring KAWS' CHUM character in a hunched position. Published to commemorate the debut of KAWS’ larger scale sculpt...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Along The Way: complete set of 3 (KAWS Companion Along The Way set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Along The Way: Complete Set of 3 works: new and unopened in original packaging. The KAWS Along The Way figurine is a rendition of the artist's 2013 18 foot wood sculpture origin...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Holiday Companion (Set of 2 works)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS 'Holiday' Companion Korea & Hong Kong (set of 2 works):
Set of 2 KAWS Companions, each published by All Rights Reserved to commemorate the debut of KAWS’ large scale floating figures in Seoul’s Seokchon Lake (brown) & Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS CLEAN SLATE set of 2 works (KAWS clean slate black & grey)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Clean Slate Set of 2 (Black & Grey), new & unopened in their original packaging.
A well-received work and variation of KAWS' large scale Clean S...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS Holiday Japan: set of 2 works (KAWS Mount Fuji Japan)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Holiday Companion Japan: Set of 2 works (KAWS Mount Fuji):
These sold out KAWS figurines features KAWS' signature character COMPANION in a resting po...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Red Blush companions (complete set of 2 works KAWS Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Red Blush Companions: complete set of 2 works: New and sealed in their original packaging. Published by Medicom Japan in conjunction with the exhibition, KAWS: Where The End Sta...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS Taipei Holiday Companion set of 2 (KAWS companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Taipei Holiday Companion, Set of 2 (KAWS Brown & Grey Companion):
KAWS' signature character COMPANION presented in a resting seated position. 2 individual pieces (brown, & grey). Each 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. The set comes individually housed in custom KAWS designed packaging. New/unopened.
Medium: Set of 2 Painted cast resin vinyl figures.
Dimensions: 5.5 x 7 x 5.5 inches (applies to each individual)
New, unopened; excellent condition.
From a sold out un-numbered edition.
Stamped on the underside.
A great wall or shelf set that would look fantastic displayed either in or out of the case.
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. Pop Art. Kaws sculpture. Kaws Passing Through. Kaws Resting...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS Companions 2016: set of 2 (KAWS brown companions)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Brown KAWS Companions: 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 Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth in 2016. These figurines have since sold out.
Medium: Vinyl paint, cast resin. Year: 2016.
Dimensions: 11 × 5 × 3 in (applies to each individual)
New/unopened; excellent condition.
Stamped by artist on underside of each foot; from an edition of unknown.
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...
Category
2010s Street Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS GONE complete set of 3 (KAWS gone companions)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS GONE: Complete set of 3 figures: new & unopened in their original packaging.
A well-received work and variation of KAWS' large scale GONE sculpture - ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS Clean Slate Set of 2 (KAWS brown & black clean slate companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Clean Slate: Set of 2 (Brown & Black), each new & unopened in original packaging.
A well-received work and variations of KAWS' large scale Clean Slate sculpture - a key highlig...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS Japan Holiday Companion (KAWS brown Mount Fuji companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Brown Holiday Companion (KAWS Mount Fuji Japan):
This sold out figurine features KAWS' signature character COMPANION in a resting position. This figurine was published by All R...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS plush Holiday Japan (KAWS set of 3)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Mount Fuji Plush: Complete Set of Three Works:
These sold out plush figures were produced in conjunction with KAWS’ widely popular, traveling art installation, ‘Holiday' - this time at Mt. Fuji, Japan. New in an exclusive KAWS designed box.
Medium: 3 individual plush figures.
Year: 2019.
Dimensions: 9 x 9 inches (applies to each individual).
New with original box and numbered tags (please note number may differ from that in listing).
Acquired directly from publisher.
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. Retna. Shepard Fairey. Damien Hirst. Pop Art.KAWS Passing Through. KAWS pillow...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Cotton
KAWS Holiday Companion Japan complete set of 3 works (KAWS Mount Fuji Japan)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Holiday Companion Japan: Complete Set of 3 (KAWS Mount Fuji):
This sold out complete set features KAWS' signature character COMPANION in a resting pos...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS Companion 2016: complete set of 6
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Companion Complete Set of 6, 2016. Each new and sealed in original packaging. Published by Medicom Japan in conjunction with the exhibition, KAWS: Where The End Starts at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. These figurines have since sold out. Set includes 3 colors: Black, Brown and Grey, each in two variations (KAWS full body and Kaws Dissected...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS Brown Flayed Companion 2016 (KAWS flayed companion brown)
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: Where The End Starts at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. ThIs figurine has since sold out.
Medium: Painted Vinyl Cast Resin figure.
Year: 2016
Dimensions: 11 × 5 inches.
New, unopened; excellent condition
Stamped on underside feet, from a sold out edition of unknown; scarce.
Provenance: MoMa design store NY.
“KAWS” is a fine artist, illustrator...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Travis Scott record art
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
After KAWS Travis Scott Record Art, “The Scotts”:
Offset lithograph on vinyl record jacket & record labels. 2020.
Dimensions: 12 x 12 inches.
Condition...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Street Art KAWS Art
Materials
Offset
KAWS 2001-2019 collection of 6 gallery announcements
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Collection of 6 vintage KAWS exhibition invitations ranging from 2001-2019.
Published on the occasion(s) of:
- KAWS Tokyo First Exhibit Poster 2001 (7.75 x 11.25 inches).
- KAWS Medicom Toy...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Lithograph, Offset
KAWS Companion 2016 (KAWS Brown Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Brown Companion, 2016. New and sealed in its original packaging. This classic KAWS figurative sculpture was published by Medicom Japan in conjunction w...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS Passing Through Companion Set (complete set of three; 2018)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Passing Through: Complete Set of 3 (2018). Each new and sealed in their original packaging.
Among the most iconic of all KAWS Companions presented in the artist’s traditional 3 colors: Black, Brown and Grey.
Medium: Vinyl, Cast Resin.
Dimensions (applies to each individual): 8 × 3.4 × 5 inches.
Each are new, unopened and in original packaging.
Stamped on underside of feet. From a sold out edition of unknown.
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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Passing Through Companion: set of 2 (2018)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Companion Passing Through 2018: Set of 2 works (Brown & Grey):
The most iconic of the KAWS Companions presented new in original packaging in 2 color-ways: Brown & Grey.
Medium: Vinyl paint, Cast Resin.
Dimensions (applies to each individual): 8 × 3.4 × 5 inches.
Each are new, unopened and in in their original packaging.
Stamped on the underside of the feet. From a sold out edition of unknown.
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
Pop Art. Street Art. Damien Hirst. Hebru Brantley. Banksy. KAWS Companion. KAWS brown. KAWS grey. KAWS set...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Vinyl, Resin
KAWS URGE (KAWS ceramic plates)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS URGE
This complete set of KAWS ceramic plates features KAWS' CHUM character and was published by The Brooklyn Museum on the occasion of the 2021 KAWS...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Ceramic, Lithograph, Screen
KAWS Taipei Holiday Companion (KAWS Grey Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Grey Holiday Companion (KAWS Taipei):
This figurine features KAWS' signature character COMPANION in a resting seated position. This figurine was publ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS 2009 exhibition announcement
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS The Long Way Home:
Rare, highly collectible 2000's KAWS exhibition announcement for a solo exhibition by KAWS Honor Fraser Gallery, Los Angeles: February 21, 2009 — April 04, 2009.
Offset-printed; 5.5 x 4 inches.
Good overall vintage condition; printer's marking or other on reverse; light handling marks.
Unsigned from an edition of unknown. Scarce.
Honor Fraser Gallery Press Release, 2009:
"Honor Fraser is pleased to present a solo exhibition of new work by KAWS.
The Brooklyn-based artist will be presenting new painting and sculptural work in his first solo show in Los Angeles. KAWS' technique acts as a sieve of modern culture, filtering and re-contextualizing the images and information that he comes in contact with daily. His process is all encompassing, embracing popular culture and the visual landscape of the familiar. The work can be thought of as an overarching brand; however it is also immediate and organic. This energetic immediacy can be felt in the selection of works that he is presenting.
New large paintings included in the exhibition feature his usual cross-section of familiar cultural icons painted with precise execution. The resulting pieces feature the trademark graphic quality inherent in his work. A large life-size Chum acts as a sentry in the space, watching over the works while also playing with scale and proportion.
KAWS roots began as a graffiti artist in the early 1990s, and since then he has built an identity that had its genesis in guerilla imagery added to billboards and bus shelters. He converts familiar visuals into affronting works of art. Through his company OriginalFake he has released limited edition works. He has also collaborated on design projects with Commes Des Garcons, Marc Jacobs, and A Bathing Ape. Most recently he has worked with Kanye West to create the cover art for Kanye's current album. This reworking of popular culture has grown KAWS into a multi-faceted, multi-pronged endeavor that has ventured into the realm of contemporary art. KAWS situates himself at the crossroads of media and art; a vanguard in the new frontier of the 21st century artistic discourse."
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Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Lithograph, Offset
KAWS Holiday Taipei grey (KAWS Companion grey)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Grey Holiday Companion (KAWS Taipei)
This figurine features KAWS' signature character COMPANION in a resting seated position. This figurine 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 paint, cast resin.
Year: 2019.
Dimensions: 5.5 x 7 x 5.5 inches.
New/unopened; 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 grey. Kaws Passing Through. Kaws Resting Place...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Skeleton set of 4 works (KAWS companion skeleton)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS SKELETON 2021: complete set of 4 works:
A set of 4 neon printed KAWS designed skeletons published in 2021 to commemorate Halloween. Each accompanied...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Paper, Lithograph, Screen
KAWS Bearbrick Set of 3 (KAWS Be@rbrick 400% dissected companions)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Bearbrick 400%; A set of 3 KAWS Dissected Bearbrick Companions, 2008-2010.
Each a collaboration between KAWS' OriginalFake brand and Medicom; these much sought-after KAWS Be@rbrick figures are made from cast vinyl and features the artist's signature "X" for each eye as well as move-able arms, legs, and hands. KAWS stamp found on underside of feet; each accompanied by its original box complete with original holograms. A fantastic limited edition KAWS collector's set that works well in any setting.
Medium: Vinyl Figurine.
Figures: 11 x 5.25 x 4 in (27.94 x 13.34 x 10.16 cm) each.
Boxes: 11.5 x 6 x 4.5 in (29.21 x 15.24 x 11.43 cm) each.
Condition of Figurines:
- Brown: Very good overall condition with the exception of some tiny black specs in a few areas.
- Black: Very good overall condition with the exception of some minor shelf-wear to base of one foot.
- Grey: Figurine is new/excellent housed in its original packaging.
Boxes: each contain some minor shelf-wear; in otherwise very good overall condition.
Stamped on the underside of feet.
From a limited edition of approximately 1000 each.
Published by Medicom Toy and OriginalFake, Tokyo.
Obtained from a well established New York private collection. Original holograms present on verso of box.
Further Background:
BE@RBRICKs are a form of collectible toy that resemble a cross between LEGO and well, a bear. These block-style figurines boast teddy bear-style heads that have become an integral pillar of the collectible toy scene. In fact, it wouldn’t be so far-fetched to say that it almost single-handedly carved out the fad of toy collecting in modern times, treading the very fine line between toy and art. Since its inception, BE@RBRICKs have become one of the most recognizable characters in the world, and some of the most sought after.
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
Shepard Fairey. Street Art. Damien Hirst. KAWS companion. KAWS Star Wars. Black KAWS. Takashi Murakami. Hebru Brantley. Art toys. KAWS Dissected Companion...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS One (early KAWS artist book)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS One: KAWS Artist Monograph, 1st edition, 2001
Hardcover book, 80 pages
Rare and out of print. A definitive look back at the development of the artist's style and early beginnings.
8.4 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
Condition: Extremely minor shelf wear; otherwise like new
1st edition 2001
Related Categories
Street Art. Kaws prints...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Art
Materials
Paper, Offset
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 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.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- Who is the owner of KAWS?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMay 14, 2024There 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.