Skip to main content

KAWS Mixed Media

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.

to
1
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
419
280
273
150
134
1
Artist: KAWS
Kaws Blush Set Flayed & Companion YUZ Museum China Decorative Figures Pop Urban
By KAWS
Located in Draper, UT
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 a...
Category

2010s Pop Art KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

Related Items
Iris Crystals
By Chloe Hedden
Located in Quebec, Quebec
“Iris Crystals” is a rich blue colored wall sculpture made out of solid koa wood and then painted and sealed with a UV matte sealer. The geometric facets are hand carved and add intr...
Category

2010s Abstract Geometric KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Wood, Spray Paint, Vinyl

Iris Crystals
Iris Crystals
H 30 in W 24 in D 4 in
Iris Blue Folds (navy blue, dark blue, hard fabric, contemporary design, textile
By Chloe Hedden
Located in Quebec, Quebec
“Iris Blue Folds” is a deep blue colored wall sculpture made with burlap on wood. The folds are carefully arranged from a single piece of burlap. This creates a dynamic artwork where...
Category

2010s Abstract KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Fabric, Linen, Mixed Media, Vinyl

Ballet Pink Folds (hard fabric, textile wall sculpture, contemporary art design)
By Chloe Hedden
Located in Quebec, Quebec
“Ballet Pink Folds” is a light pink/flesh colored wall sculpture made with burlap on linen. The folds are carefully arranged from a single piece of burlap. This creates a dynamic art...
Category

2010s Abstract KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Fabric, Linen, Mixed Media, Vinyl

Puzzle 104, David E. Peterson, Contemporary Colorful Wooden Wall Sculpture
By David E. Peterson
Located in Dallas, TX
David E. Peterson Puzzle # 104, 2016 Maple, mdf, acrylic and uv resin 36h x 24w x 1.50d in 91.44h x 60.96w x 3.81d cm DAVID E. PETERSON (b. 1979, USA) An abstract painter inspired ...
Category

2010s Contemporary KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Resin, Wood, Acrylic

White Burst 2 - 3D organic feel contemporary abstract mural sculpture in foam
Located in New York, NY
Erin Vincent is a Toronto based-artist whose work draws on a variety of repetitive and labor intensive processes and materials. Things and common objects have always fascinated Vinc...
Category

2010s Abstract Geometric KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Resin, Foam, Acrylic, Wood Panel, Archival Paper

Puzzle 103, David E. Peterson, Contemporary Colorful Wooden Wall Sculpture
By David E. Peterson
Located in Dallas, TX
David E. Peterson Puzzle # 103, 2016 Maple, mdf, acrylic and uv resin 13h x 18w x 1.50d in 33.02h x 45.72w x 3.81d cm DAVID E. PETERSON (b. 1979, USA) An abstract painter inspired ...
Category

2010s Contemporary KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Resin, Wood, Acrylic

Iris Crystals
By Chloe Hedden
Located in Quebec, Quebec
“Iris Crystals” is a rich blue colored wall sculpture made out of solid koa wood and then painted and sealed with a UV matte sealer. The geometric facets are hand carved and add intr...
Category

2010s Abstract Geometric KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Wood, Spray Paint, Vinyl

Iris Crystals
Iris Crystals
H 30 in W 24 in D 4 in
Starry Night Party - Original Wall Sculpture
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
Uri Dushy's pop art piece stands out as a testament to his decades-long exploration of art's origins, blending artistic genres to forge provocative and captivating creations. This pi...
Category

2010s Pop Art KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Metal

Love at first Sight - Original Wall Sculpture
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
Uri Dushy's pop art piece stands out as a testament to his decades-long exploration of art's origins, blending artistic genres to forge provocative and captivating creations. This pi...
Category

2010s Pop Art KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Metal

Puzzle 108, minimalist, resin, acrylic, pop art, orange, blue, yellow, abstract
By David E. Peterson
Located in New York, NY
All puzzles are cleated 360 degrees on teh back and can be hung in any direction - Acrylic, maple and uv resin 24” W, 16” H, 3” D David E. Peterson. The materials that I use are...
Category

2010s Minimalist KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Resin, Wood, Acrylic

Rococo Diptych
Located in Boston, MA
Artist Commentary: This diptych started several years ago during a public art performance called Nike's Advice. I painted 130 feet of unprimed canvas with the public. It was scary! I don't consider myself a painter. I was having to accept Nike's Advice myself ... as in "Just Do It". Later, I used my sewing machine to stitch decorative lines. Gold-leaf was added before the surface was coated in UV filtering epoxy. The works are mounted with copper roofing nails to a stretcher bar with gold painted sides. Keywords: painted textile, abstract, mixed media Artist Biography: Susan Lenz...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Gold Leaf

Rococo Diptych
Rococo Diptych
H 32 in W 52 in D 0.2 in
Paper Shale- black 3D organic feel contemporary abstract mural sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Erin Vincent is a Toronto based-artist whose work draws on a variety of repetitive and labor intensive processes and materials. Things and common objects have always fascinated Vinc...
Category

2010s Abstract Geometric KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Resin, Foam, Acrylic, Wood Panel, Archival Paper

Previously Available Items
Chalk Logo Skateboard Deck Pink By KAWS
By KAWS
Located in London, GB
Chalk Logo Skateboard Deck, Pink By KAWS KAWS, the pseudonym of American artist Brian Donnelly, is widely recognized for his distinctive blend of street art and pop culture iconog...
Category

2010s Contemporary KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Screen, Mixed Media

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 Mixed Media

Materials

Offset

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 Mixed Media

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 Mixed Media

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

KAWS - Red Blanket, Cashmere, Contemporary Art, Street Art, Urban Art
By KAWS
Located in Hamburg, DE
KAWS (American, b. 1974) Red Blanket, 2019 Medium: 100% superfine cashmere Dimensions: 130 × 180 cm (51 1/5 × 70 9/10 in) Edition size: 85 Publisher: Studio Voltaire, London Conditio...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Street Art KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Wool

Blue Blanket, Cashmere, Contemporary Art, Street Art, Urban Art
By KAWS
Located in Hamburg, DE
KAWS (American, b. 1974) Red Blanket, 2019 Medium: 100% superfine cashmere Dimensions: 130 × 180 cm (51 1/5 × 70 9/10 in) Edition size: 85 Publisher: Studio Voltaire, London Conditio...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Street Art KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Wool

Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket, Disney + KAWS, Art Toy, 2010
By KAWS
Located in New York, NY
KAWS and Disney collaboration Art Toy, ‘Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket’ is a heartwarming vinyl duo by street-artist and contemporary master, KAWS. The collectable iconic pair was crea...
Category

2010s Street Art KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Resin, Vinyl

Chopsticks (Holiday - Japan)
By KAWS
Located in London, GB
For his Holiday Japan event at the base of Mount Fuji, KAWS released a set of wooden chopsticks. The wooden chopsticks, which feature his famous X motif engraved on each stick, were ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Street Art KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Wood

KAWS 2009 The Long Way Home (exhibition announcement)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS The Long Way Home: Rare, highly collectible 2000's exhibition announcement for a solo exhibition by KAWS Honor Fraser Gallery, Los Angeles...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Lithograph, Offset

Bert & Ernie (Sesame Street) by KAWS
By KAWS
Located in London, GB
20.50 in (52.1 cm) Sold in 'as new' condition, with original publisher tags as issued. 100% Polyester.
Category

2010s Street Art KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Polyester

Snoopy (large - black) by KAWS
By KAWS
Located in London, GB
21.70 in (55.1 cm) Sold in 'as new' condition. The item has never been used or displayed.
Category

2010s Street Art KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Polyester

KAWS Record Art (KAWS Travis Scott cover art)
By KAWS
Located in NEW YORK, NY
KAWS Travis Scott Record Art, “The Scotts”: Offset lithograph on vinyl record jacket & record labels. 2020. Dimensions: 12 x 12 inches. Condition: New/...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art KAWS Mixed Media

Materials

Lithograph, Offset

Kaws mixed media for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic KAWS mixed media available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of mixed media to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of purple, blue, orange 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 mixed media, so small editions measuring 3 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Shawn Kolodny, Plastic Jesus, and Banksy. KAWS mixed media prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $132 and tops out at $18,500, while the average work can sell for $2,106.
Questions About KAWS Mixed Media
  • 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 ExpertMay 30, 2024
    KAWS doesn't stand for anything, as the name is not an abbreviation. Rather, it is the artistic alias of Brian Donnelly. The name dates back to the start of his career, when he was a street artist known by his tag, KAWS. In interviews, Donnelly has explained that he chose the name KAWS simply because he likes how it looks. Shop a collection of KAWS art on 1stDibs.
  • 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 ExpertNovember 13, 2024
    Yes, there are fake KAWS. Unfortunately, the rising popularity of KAWS figures has brought a proliferation of fakes. To avoid purchasing a replica, familiarize yourself with the nuances of a specific model and study images of authentic figures. Is the color right? Many fakes get the nuances wrong, so be sure to compare the color of your figure to those shown in images of authentic pieces. How about the finish? Check if your particular figure should be matte or shiny. Are there discrepancies in the X’s of the eyes or the placement of design features? For example, a four-foot KAWS Dissected Companion should have 10 dots for the ribs. Many fakes only have nine. You can also seek the opinion of a certified appraiser or knowledgeable dealer when attempting to authenticate a specific figure. On 1stDibs, explore a selection of KAWS art.
  • 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 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 ExpertAugust 8, 2024
    KAWS brand is a term that some people apply to the pieces produced by the artist KAWS. But technically, KAWS is a person — Brian Donnelly — and not a brand. He 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 1999, KAWS 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. You will sometimes see people refer to these toys as KAWS brand figurines. Shop a diverse assortment of KAWS art 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.
  • 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
    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 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 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 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 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 ExpertMay 30, 2024
    KAWS is so popular in China because his artwork appeals to a young demographic that is interested in the bold yet playful style of his figurines, toys, sculptures, prints and other works. The unique street art style of KAWS’s works has broad appeal beyond China as well. His pieces that appropriate elements of pop culture, such as SpongeBob Squarepants and The Simpsons, are especially famous. Shop a wide variety of KAWS art on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 7, 2024
    Yes, KAWS is real art. Although Brian Donnelly, the artist known as KAWS, often draws inspiration from popular culture, his art includes sculptures and colorful drawings, paintings and prints. His iconic toys and figures also qualify as art, and like prints, they're sold in limited qualities. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of KAWS art from some of the world's top dealers and galleries.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 7, 2024
    Yes, KAWS is a real artist. Born Brian Donnelly, he got his start as a graffiti artist in his hometown of Jersey City, New Jersey. KAWS was his tag, chosen simply because he liked how it looked. Today, KAWS creates all kinds of art, including figures and toys, sculptures and colorful drawings, paintings and prints that appropriate pop phenomena like the Smurfs, the Simpsons and SpongeBob SquarePants. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of KAWS art.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 26, 2024
    What the KAWS character is called depends on which one you mean, as KAWS has created more than one. Companion is the most visible of the KAWS posse, appearing over the past decade in new postures and iterations in both monumental KAWS statues and small figures. The character is a reimagining of Mickey Mouse with a skull-and-crossbones head and trademark XX eyes. Other KAWS characters include Accomplice, Chum and Bendy. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of KAWS art.

Recently Viewed

View All