In the beginning, Brian Donnelly was just a kid from Jersey City, New Jersey, who got into the graffiti thing. KAWS was his tag, chosen simply because he liked the way it looked. Today, KAWS creates all kinds of art — there are KAWS figures and toys, sculptures and colorful drawings, paintings and prints that appropriate pop phenomena like the Smurfs, the Simpsons and SpongeBob SquarePants.
In the late 1990s, the artist, a 1996 graduate of New York’s School of Visual Arts, was making a living as an illustrator for the animation studio Jumbo Pictures. Like young Hansel and Gretel with their trail of crumbs, KAWS would mark the morning route to his downtown Manhattan office with “subvertising,” “interrupting” fashion advertisements by adding his colorful character Bendy, its sinuous length sliding playfully around the likes of a Calvin Klein perfume bottle or supermodel Christy Turlington.
These creations gained a following, to the point where work posted in the morning would disappear by lunchtime. Even in those early days, KAWS was hot on the resale market.
“When I was doing graffiti,” he once explained, “it meant nothing to me to make paintings if I wasn’t reaching people.”
Instead of seeking entrée to the elite New York art world (which, frankly, wasn’t looking for a street artist anyway), KAWS moved to Japan, where a flourishing youth culture welcomed visionaries like him.
In 1999, he partnered with Bounty Hunter, a Japanese toy and streetwear brand, to release his first toy. Companion — an eight-inch-tall vinyl reimagining of Mickey Mouse, with a skull-and-crossbones head and trademark XX eyes — debuted with a limited run of 500. It sold out quickly.
Companion was the first of more than 130 toy designs, which came to include such characters as Chum, Blitz, Be@rbrick, BFF and Milo, each immediately recognizable as KAWS figures by their XX eyes. Fans have proved insatiable. In 2017, MoMA’s online store announced the availability of a limited supply of KAWS Companion figures; as avid collectors logged on to stake their claim, the website crashed — multiple times.
Companion is the most visible of the KAWS posse, appearing over the past decade in new postures and combinations in monumental KAWS statues and other works. These include Along the Way (2013), an 18-foot-tall wooden sculpture of two Companions leaning on each other for support; Together (2016), two Companions in a friendly embrace, which debuted during an exhibition of KAWS’s work at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, in Texas; and KAWS:HOLIDAY (2018), a 92-foot-long inflatable Companion floating on its back in Seoul’s Seokchon Lake. The sculptures were re-created as toys, blurring the lines between art and commerce.
KAWS’s visual language may be drawn from cartoons, but his work doesn’t necessarily evoke childlike joy.
“My figures are not always reflecting the idealistic cartoon view that I grew up on,” he explains in the catalogue for the Fort Worth exhibition. “Companion is more real in dealing with contemporary human circumstances . . . . I think when I’m making work it also often mirrors what’s going on with me at that time.”
KAWS's résumé reads like a record of major 21st-century pop-culture moments. It includes his work with streetwear brands like A Bathing Ape and Supreme; his design for the cover of Kanye West’s 2008 album, 808s & Heartbreak; and his collaboration with designer Kim Jones on the Dior Homme Spring/Summer 2019 collection, Jones’s debut as the fashion brand’s creative director.
Learn how to spot a fake KAWS art toy, and browse authentic KAWS figures, prints, sculptures and mixed media works on 1stDibs.
KAWS 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...
Resin, Vinyl
$14,500
Urge (I)
By KAWS
Located in New York, NY
A very good impression of this color screenprint on Saunders Waterford paper. Signed, dated and numbered 199/250 in pencil. Published by the artist, New York. From the same titled se...
Color, Screen
$576Sale Price|20% Off
HOLIDAY INDONESIA - ACCOMPLICE Figure (Black)
By KAWS
Located in Dallas, TX
KAWS:HOLIDAY KAWS:HOLIDAY INDONESIA - Figure (Black) SPECIFICATION • Material: Vinyl • Dimension: L11.5 inches • Certificated NFC chip of authenticity For this tenth stop on the tou...
Plastic
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...
Resin, Vinyl
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...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS - Holiday: Singapore (Brown Edition) - Pop Art
By KAWS
Located in Asheville, NC
KAWS - Holiday: Singapore (Brown Edition) - Pop Art Artists KAWS Edition Details Year: 2021 Class: Toy Status: Official Released: 11/13/21 Paper: Vinyl Abo...
Resin, Plastic
$1,990
BFF (Black)
By KAWS
Located in Boston, MA
Artist: KAWS, Title: BFF (Black) Series: Toys Date: 2017 Medium: Sculpture Unframed Dimensions: 13.5" x 5" x 3.5" Signature: Stamped Edition: Open Edition
PVC
$6,776Sale Price|30% Off
KAWS x Star Wars Boba Fett
By KAWS
Located in BRUCE, ACT
KAWS x Star Wars Boba Fett, 2013 Size: 26 x 12 x 10 cm Edition of 500 Printed with the artist's name and dated 2013 on the underside Produced by Medicom Toy and OriginalFake, Tokyo C...
Vinyl
$47,970Sale Price|40% Off
SUPERMODEL 2
By KAWS
Located in Aventura, FL
Screen print in colors on Rives BFK wove paper. Hand signed, dated and numbered by the artist. Artwork size 29.2 x 21 inches. Custom framed as pictured. Frame size approx 34.5 x 2...
Paper, Screen
$1,088Sale Price|20% Off
KAWS BAPE Dissected Milo (Brown)
By KAWS
Located in BRUCE, ACT
KAWS BAPE Dissected Milo (Brown) 2011 Painted cast resin Size: 19 x 16.5 cm Stamped on the underside of the feet Come with the original box KAWS Dissected Milo was born out of a col...
Resin
Small Lie companion figure in Grey
By KAWS
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Small Lie Companion Figure in Grey
Resin
KAWS Companion Flayed Edition & Companion Edition Vinyl Figure Blush Set Sealed
By KAWS
Located in Draper, UT
Yuz Museum, Shanghai proudly announces a major survey exhibition of the work of Brooklyn-based artist KAWS (American, born 1974) on view at Yuz Museum, from March 28 to August 13, 20...
Vinyl
$2,595Sale Price|25% Off
KAWS -- Bendy (Green)
By KAWS
Located in BRUCE, ACT
KAWS Bendy (Green) 2003 Painted vinyl 35.6 x 7.6 cm Stamped to the reverse Limited edition of 500 Coming in its original box
Vinyl
$17,970Sale Price|40% Off
WHAT PARTY (ORANGE)
By KAWS
Located in Aventura, FL
Screen print in colors on Saunders Waterford hi-white paper. Hand signed, dated and numbered by the artist. Edition 33/100 (there was also 20 APs and 5 PPs). Published by KAWSONE, B...
Paper, Screen
$2,595Sale Price|25% Off
KAWS Bendy (Red)
By KAWS
Located in BRUCE, ACT
KAWS Bendy (Red) 2003 Painted Vinyl 35.6 x 7.6 cm Stamped to the reverse Limited edition of 500 Coming in its original box
Vinyl
$117,000Sale Price|40% Off
NO REPLY PORTFOLIO
By KAWS
Located in Aventura, FL
No Reply Portfolio by KAWS. Screenprint on wove paper. Each of the 10 screen prints are hand signed, dated and numbered by the artist. Edition PP 3/5. (Pr...
Paper, Screen
$2,076Sale Price|40% Off
KAWS X Be@rbrick Original Fake Dissected 400% (Grey)
By KAWS
Located in BRUCE, ACT
400% KAWS X Be@rbrick Original Fake Dissected (Grey) 2010 Painted Cast Vinyl Limited Edition of 500 Size: 28 × 12.7 × 10 cm Publisher: Medicom Toy x OriginalFake Come with the origin...
Vinyl
KAWS -- Holiday Changbai Mountain (white)
By KAWS
Located in BRUCE, ACT
KAWS Holiday Changbai Mountain, 2022 Painted cast vinyl multiples The artist and title stamped on the underside Published by AllRightsReserved Ltd., Hong Kong, housed within the orig...
Resin
Mono Flayed Companion
By KAWS
Located in Washington , DC, DC
Mono Flayed Companion Open unknown edition Unsigned
Plastic
What Party Yellow
By KAWS
Located in Washington , DC, DC
comes with original box open unknown edition unsigned
Plastic
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
What Party Chum Pink
By KAWS
Located in Washington , DC, DC
What Party Chum Pink open unknown edition unsigned
Vinyl
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
Take (Black)
By KAWS
Located in Washington , DC, DC
Take (Black) Open unknown edition Unsigned
Resin, Vinyl
$9,000Sale Price|40% Off
UNTITLED (RUNNING SNOOPY)
By KAWS
Located in Aventura, FL
Screen print cutout on Saunders Waterford 425gm HP Hi-White paper. Hand signed, dated and numbered by the artist. Artwork size 9 x 10 inches. Custom framed as pictured. Frame size...
Paper, Screen
$7,500
alone time
By KAWS
Located in New York, NY
Alone Time, 2022 Signed and Numbered Bronze H 1 x W 5.3 x D 5.7 inches Edition 243 of 250
Bronze
KAWS 2019 "Along the Way" Black Set Open Edition from Medicom Toy Corp.
By KAWS
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Set of two black vinyl figures in original box from KAWS' (a.k.a. Brian Donnelly) 2019 open edition release of "Along the Way." Never removed from box. ...
Vinyl
$1,225Sale Price|30% Off
KAWS "Holiday Space, " 2020
By KAWS
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Artist/Designer; Manufacturer: KAWS aka Brian Donnelly (American, b. 1974); Medicom Toy Corporation Marking(s); notes: marking(s); 2020 Materials: painted cast vinyl Dimensions (H, ...
Mixed Media
KAWS Small Lie set of 2 (KAWS Companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Small Lie Companion: Set of 2 works (black and grey). Each new and sealed in their original packaging. Among KAWS’s signature “Companions,” Small Lie has the most childlike re...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Holiday Taipei & KAWS Holiday Singapore (6 works)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Holiday Taipei & KAWS Holiday Singapore: Two complete sets of 3, comprising 6 works in total: Six KAWS Holiday figures featuring KAWS Companion in two distinctive positions. E...
Vinyl
KAWS What Party & Chum (set of 2 works)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS What Party & Chum (set of 2 works): Two individual KAWS Companions featuring the classic KAWS CHUM character. Published to commemorate the debut of KAWS’ larger scale sculptural...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Chum Pink Vinyl Art Toy, Contemporary, Unsigned, 2010s Edition
By KAWS
Located in New York, NY
Painted cast vinyl art toy To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iconic Chum figurine, KAWS released a new set of colors in the summer of 2022. Chum means "a close friend" is not...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS What Party KAWS Chum (KAWS companion set of 2 works)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS What Party & Chum (set of 2 works): Two individual KAWS Companions featuring the classic KAWS CHUM character. Published to commemorate the debut of KAWS’ larger scale sculptural...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS Holiday UK set of 2 works (KAWS United Kingdom)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS: HOLIDAY United Kingdom: Set of 2 works (KAWS UK): KAWS' signature character COMPANION presented in an upright standing position with its eyes covered. 2 individual works (blac...
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'...
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...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS BFF set of 3 works (KAWS BFF Companion set)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS BFF 2018: Complete Set of 3 (Pink, Black, and Blue). Each, new/unopened in their original packaging: A highly collectible KAWS Companion set and variation of Kaws' large scale B...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS HOLIDAY: set of 6 works (KAWS black companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Holiday Companion (2019-2022): A curated set of 6 individual Black KAWS: HOLIDAY Companions new & unopened in original packaging. These KAWS holiday companions were born out of KAWS' world famous rotating series of large scale outdoor public exhibitions featuring massive sized renditions of same. A standout series of individual KAWS companions that works nicely in any setting. Please find further information as follows: KAWS UK (12 inches in height). KAWS Mount Fuji Japan (9.4 inches). KAWS Taipei (5.5 x 7 inches). KAWS Changbai...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS FAMILY set of 2 works (brown & black KAWS Family companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS FAMILY 2021 set of 2 (KAWS FAMILY brown & KAWS FAMILY black): A well-received work and variation of KAWS' larger FAMILY sculpture - this highly ...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS WHAT PARTY KAWS BFF (set of 2 works)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS WHAT PARTY White & Blue BFF Companion, set of 2 works: This set features KAWS Companion vinyl sculpture with KAWS' CHUM character in a hunc...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS WHAT PARTY set of 2 works (KAWS Companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS WHAT PARTY: Set of 2 works: These KAWS Companion vinyl sculptures feature KAWS' signature CHUM character in a hunched position. Published to commemorate the debut of KAWS’ large...
Resin, Vinyl
KAWS GONE set of 2 (KAWS gone companion)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS GONE: Set of 2 new & unopened in original packaging. A well-received work and variation of KAWS' large scale GONE sculpture - a key highlight of KAWS’ ...
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: pink & yellow) 2 individual KAWS Companions featuring KAWS' CHUM character in a hunched position. Published to commemorate the debut of KAWS’ larger ...
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...
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...
Resin, Vinyl
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 ...
Resin, Vinyl
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...
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...
Resin, Vinyl
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...
Resin, Vinyl
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...
Resin, Vinyl
You Should Know I Know
By KAWS
Located in Miami, FL
TECHNICAL INFORMATION KAWS You Should Know I Know 2015 Screenprint 37 1/2 x 32 in. Edition of 250 Pencil Signed and Numbered Accompanied with COA by Gregg Shienbaum Fine Art Condi...
Screen
KAWS Chum Vinyl Art Toy, Contemporary Resin Sculpture, 2022 Release
By KAWS
Located in New York, NY
Painted cast vinyl art toy To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iconic Chum figurine, KAWS released a new set of colors in the summer of 2022. Chum means "a close friend" is not...
Resin, Vinyl
2019 "Along the Way" Brown Set of Two Vinyl KAWS Figures from Medicom Toy Corp.
By KAWS
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Set of two brown painted vinyl figures from KAWS' (a.k.a. Brian Donnelly's) 2019 open edition "Along the Way" release. In original box from Medicom Toy Corp. Unsigned.
Vinyl
Price Upon Request
KAWS Cat Teeth Bank 2007
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Cat Teeth Bank (Navy), 2007 "Cat Teeth Bank" was first released in 2007. Subjected to KAWS' signature stylings of an X for each eye, this character maintains a gaping, fanged mo...
Resin, Vinyl
Price Upon Request
KAWS Black Dissected 400% Bearbrick Companion (KAWS Be@rbrick)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Dissected Black Bearbrick 400%, 2010: A collaboration between KAWS' OriginalFake brand and Medicom, this much sought-after black dissected KAWS Be@rbrick figure, is made from ca...
Resin, Vinyl
Price Upon Request
still moment
By KAWS
Located in New York, NY
Still Moment , 2022 Signed and Numbered Bronze H 3.25 x W 3.5 x D 4.3 inches Edition 243 of 250
Bronze
Price Upon Request
space
By KAWS
Located in New York, NY
Space, 2022 Signed and Numbered Bronze H 5.5 x W 2.4 x D 2 inches Edition 243 of 250
Bronze
Price Upon Request
Shelter
By KAWS
Located in New York, NY
Shelter , 2022 Signed and Numbered Bronze H 3.75 x W 3 x D 3 inches Edition 243 of 250
Bronze
Price Upon Request
seeing
By KAWS
Located in New York, NY
Seeing, 2022 Signed and Numbered Bronze H 7 x W 2.8 x D 4.3 inches Edition 243 of 250
Bronze
Price Upon Request
passing through
By KAWS
Located in New York, NY
Passing Through, 2022 Signed and Numbered Bronze H 4.3 x W 1.8 x D 2.8 inches Edition 243 of 250
Bronze
Price Upon Request
here today
By KAWS
Located in New York, NY
Here Today , 2022 Signed and Numbered Bronze H 2 x W 5.5 x D 2.4 inches Edition 243 of 250
Bronze
Price Upon Request
Good Morning
By KAWS
Located in New York, NY
Good Morning, 2022 Signed and Numbered Bronze H 1.6 x W 6 x D 2.44 inches Edition 243 of 250
Bronze