KAWS Top Figures: Exploring His Famous Creations

KAWS is one of the most creative voices of our time. He is a multidisciplinary artist who goes beyond the traditional definition of art, to speak a universal language. 

The artist KAWS with a group of works from his COMPANION series © Hye-Ryoung Min

Behind the artist

Brian Donnelly, also known as KAWS, was born in 1974 in New Jersey. He created his pseudonym during his adolescence, when he started to approach street art. He became known for tagging New York buildings with “KAWS”—a combination of letters that had no specific meaning but looked visually appealing together on the walls.

KAWS reimagines characters like Mickey Mouse, SpongeBob, and Snoopy in his signature style. His most famous characters, such as Companion, are original creations that often explore themes of loneliness, vulnerability, and emotion. He uses flat, vibrant colors and graphic shapes, to give a cartoonish yet sophisticated feel. In addition he repeats the same features that have become his trademarks: crossed-out eyes, skull-and-crossbones head designs, and expressive, cartoon-like forms. By representing distorted but yet very well known characters, he creates a simple and universal language that everyone can relate to.

KAWS, Companion, 2016, available on Artsper

Without any doubt, some of the major influences on KAWS’ style have been Pop Art and Andy Warhol. Indeed he is recognized as one of Warhol’s successors, for his capacity to blur the borders between mass market and art, as happened with the great maestro. KAWS produces artworks that also have a commercial language, as a critique against consumerism and mass culture. By reinterpreting beloved cartoon characters and icons, he brings a sense of nostalgia that also challenges how these figures have been commercialized.

A selection of artwork

KAWS not only takes inspiration from different artistic movements, but he also produces different types of artworks. He is a painter, a street artist, a sculptor, a toy maker, a designer. Below you can find some of his most famous works.

1. Chum

KAWS, Chum (Black), 2020, available on Artsper

The character is loosely inspired by Bibendum (known to most as ‘Mr. Michelin’), the mascot of the Michelin tire company. This version has the same shape as ‘Bib’, except for the face, which has X eyes and the crossed bones of Companion, the artist’s most iconic figure. The value of the artwork is around 1000$.

2. Pinocchio

KAWS x Disney Pinocchio & Jiminy Cricket, 2010, available on Artsper

Here, the artist gives his own interpretation of the famous Disney story Pinocchio. You can recognize the wooden boy by his round belly, clothes, and white gloves, but also Companion by the X eyes and skull. When they were first released, these sculptures often sold out in just a few seconds. When the Museum of Modern Art featured the Pinocchio toys in its design store, the museum’s website crashed multiple times.

3. Spongebob

KAWS, KAWSBOB, 2011, Available on Artsper

Here, KAWS borrows Spongebob but customizes it according to his style and distinctive marks, transforming it into a work of art sold for $6 million in 2019 during a Philips New York auction.

4. Companion Holiday

KAWS, Companion Holiday, 2019, © CNN

Beyond paintings and vinyl toys, KAWS creates large-scale sculptures and installations worldwide. His massive Companion and BFF sculptures appear in cities globally, inviting viewers to engage with art in public spaces and creating a sense of connection and community. For instance in March 2019, a 121ft-long inflatable Companion was installed in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour during Art Basel. This represented an important recognition. 

5. Uniqlo partnership

KAWS X Uniqlo, © Uniqlo

KAWS has become a major figure not only in the art world but also in the fashion industry through his numerous collaborations with high-end fashion brands, streetwear labels, and luxury companies. These partnerships have helped elevate his brand and introduced his iconic art to a wider, often more fashion-focused audience. He began with Supreme in 2002, and then Nike, Dior, just to cite a few. Since 2016, he has a partnership with Uniqlo for clothes, accessories and toys that feature his Companion, with prices under $50.

KAWS, Time off Blue, 2023, available on Artsper

KAWS Today

The value of KAWS’s works can vary significantly depending on the type of artwork, its rarity, size, and sales history. For example, in 2019 In the Wood (2002) was sold for $3,855,000 in 2019 at Christie’s in New York. The KAWS Album (2005) was sold for $14.8 million. In general, the market for KAWS’s works remains very dynamic, and the value of his creations continues to rise, especially due to his popularity among contemporary art collectors and younger audiences.

KAWS x Peanuts Joe Snoopy Vinyl Figure, 2011, available on Artsper