KAWS Holiday Space Companions Gold Black Silver (2020)
KAWS Take Black Blue Pink (2020)
KAWS Family Brown Edition (2021)
Kaws 4 Foot Dissected Companion Brown (2009)
BIOGRAPHY
KAWS (Brian Donnelly): Biography, Companion Figures, Sculptures, Famous Artworks and Market Value
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KAWS: Biography of Brian Donnelly, the American Contemporary Artist
KAWS, whose real name is Brian Donnelly, is an American contemporary artist born in 1974 in Jersey City, New Jersey. Emerging from the New York graffiti scene, he has developed an instantly recognizable artistic universe since the 1990s, combining street art, Pop Art, design and popular culture. His iconic characters, recognizable by their crossed-out XX eyes, are now found in private art collections, major museums and monumental public sculptures around the world.
Companion, Chum, BFF, Family, Holiday, Gone and The Promise are among his most famous creations. Class Art Biarritz offers an extensive selection of KAWS sculptures and collectible figures for sale, featuring different editions, colors and sizes.
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KAWS: From New York Graffiti to Contemporary Art
Brian Donnelly began creating graffiti in the 1990s. After studying at the School of Visual Arts in New York, where he graduated with a degree in illustration in 1996, he worked in animation while continuing to develop his artistic practice in public spaces.
KAWS first attracted attention by altering advertising posters displayed in bus shelters and other advertising spaces throughout New York. He temporarily removed advertisements from major brands, painted his own characters and graphic elements over the original images, and then returned the modified posters to their locations.
He gradually developed several distinctive visual signatures, particularly the famous XX eyes and Skully, a stylized skull that would become a fundamental element of his artistic identity. His interventions subsequently expanded to London, Paris and Tokyo.
These early works established the foundations of KAWS's artistic language: appropriating familiar images from advertising, cartoons and consumer culture to create a distinctive visual universe at the intersection of graffiti, contemporary art and Pop Art.
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KAWS Companion: The Artist's Most Iconic Character
In the late 1990s, KAWS began translating his graphic universe into sculpture and collectible art toys. Working with the Japanese manufacturer Medicom Toy, he created Companion in 1999, a character inspired by American cartoon imagery but transformed through the artist's distinctive visual codes: a skull-like head, rounded ears and crossed-out eyes.
The KAWS Companion quickly became Brian Donnelly's most iconic creation. The artist subsequently developed numerous versions featuring different poses, colors, dimensions and editions, ranging from small vinyl collectible figures to monumental sculptures reaching several dozen meters in height.
Collectors can discover the KAWS Companion Brown 2020 figure, featuring the iconic character in its distinctive brown colorway. Companion also plays a central role in KAWS's monumental installations. To explore this aspect of his artistic practice, read our article about KAWS giant sculptures and monumental installations.
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KAWS Chum, BFF, Accomplice and Other Famous Characters
Following the success of Companion, KAWS gradually developed an entire family of recognizable characters. Chum, introduced in the early 2000s, combines the artist's distinctive skull-like head with a rounded body reminiscent of a famous advertising mascot.
Accomplice features a different silhouette with long ears, while Bendy combines KAWS's characteristic head with an elongated, flexible body. These creations demonstrate how Brian Donnelly transforms familiar references from popular culture into his own artistic vocabulary.
KAWS BFF, recognizable by its textured, fur-like body and crossed-out eyes, subsequently became one of the artist's most sought-after characters. BFF figures are particularly well known in blue, pink and black colorways.
Class Art Biarritz offers the KAWS BFF Take Blue 2020, a collectible sculpture combining BFF and Companion in a composition that perfectly illustrates KAWS's artistic universe.
Explore the different versions of Companion, Chum, BFF and Take in our collection of KAWS figures for sale.
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KAWS Holiday: Monumental Companion Sculptures Around the World
With the KAWS Holiday project, Brian Donnelly brought a new dimension to his iconic Companion character by installing enormous sculptures in spectacular landscapes and major cities around the world. Holiday installations have notably been presented across Asia and in remarkable natural settings.
These monumental projects are generally accompanied by collectible editions reproducing the featured character in different colors. The resulting KAWS Holiday figures have become particularly popular among art toy enthusiasts and contemporary art collectors.
In 2025, KAWS Holiday Thailand featured a monumental Companion sculpture in Thailand. Discover this installation in our article about KAWS Holiday Thailand and its giant Companion sculpture.
Class Art Biarritz also offers the KAWS Holiday Thailand Brown figure, a collectible edition directly connected to this monumental art project.
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KAWS Gone: An Emotional Contemporary Sculpture
With Gone, KAWS explores a more emotional dimension of his artistic practice. The composition depicts Companion holding another lifeless character in its arms. Behind the familiar appearance of these cartoon-inspired figures, the artwork evokes loss, vulnerability and grief.
This emotional dimension reflects an important evolution in Brian Donnelly's work. His characters are no longer simply reinterpretations of popular cartoon imagery: their gestures, postures and relationships allow the artist to address universal human emotions.
The KAWS Gone Grey 2019 collectible figure reproduces this powerful composition in a collectible edition.
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KAWS The Promise: A Sculpture About the Future
Created in 2022, KAWS The Promise depicts two Companion figures, an adult and a child, holding a representation of the Earth together. The artwork can be interpreted as a reflection on intergenerational responsibility, environmental awareness and the transmission of values.
Unlike some of KAWS's more abstract or introspective compositions, The Promise communicates its message through an immediately understandable narrative. The relationship between the two figures and the globe positioned at the center gives the sculpture a particularly strong symbolic dimension.
Discover the KAWS The Promise Black 2022 sculpture available through Class Art Biarritz.
The Promise is also featured in our guide to KAWS collectible figures available at Class Art Biarritz.
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KAWS Collaborations: Dior, Uniqlo, Nike and Audemars Piguet
KAWS's artistic universe quickly expanded beyond the traditional boundaries of contemporary art. Brian Donnelly has developed numerous collaborations with international fashion, design and popular culture brands, helping to blur the distinction between fine art, collectible objects and commercial design.
His best-known collaborations include Dior, Uniqlo, Nike, Supreme and Comme des Garçons. These projects have contributed significantly to the international popularity of his distinctive graphic style and characters.
KAWS has also collaborated with Audemars Piguet on a Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon incorporating Companion into the watch's design.
Discover this exceptional creation and his project involving Squid Game in our article about KAWS collaborations with Audemars Piguet and Squid Game.
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KAWS Giant Sculptures and Monumental Public Installations
Although KAWS is widely known for his collectible vinyl figures and art toys, monumental sculptures represent an essential part of his artistic production.
Companion and other KAWS characters have been installed in numerous cities and landscapes around the world. Some of these giant sculptures reach several dozen meters in height, temporarily transforming public spaces into extraordinary open-air contemporary art exhibitions.
These installations have played a major role in Brian Donnelly's international recognition, allowing his work to reach audiences far beyond traditional galleries and museums.
Discover our dedicated article about KAWS giant sculptures and monumental public artworks.
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KAWS in Museums: From Street Art to International Recognition
KAWS has achieved increasing recognition from major international art institutions. His paintings, sculptures and installations are now exhibited in prominent museums around the world.
The exhibition KAWS: FAMILY at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art represented an important milestone in this institutional recognition. Bringing together paintings, sculptures and monumental artworks, the exhibition explored the evolution of Brian Donnelly's distinctive artistic universe.
Read our article about the KAWS FAMILY exhibition at SFMOMA in San Francisco.
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KAWS Figures: Collectible Art Toys and Limited Editions
KAWS figures occupy a distinctive position in the contemporary art market. Unlike unique sculptures, these collectible art toys are generally produced in limited editions and released in several colorways.
Companion, Chum, BFF, Holiday, Family, Together, Gone, Take and The Promise are among the most recognizable and sought-after KAWS collectibles.
Certain sold-out editions have experienced substantial price increases on the secondary market. However, their value depends on several factors, including rarity, demand, condition, authenticity and the presence of original packaging.
For collectors, the original box is particularly important. Depending on the edition, the packaging, protective inserts, markings and other original components contribute to the figure's traceability and resale value.
Browse the complete selection of KAWS collectible figures and sculptures currently available for sale at Class Art Biarritz.
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How to Spot a Fake KAWS Figure: Authentication and Counterfeits
The international success of KAWS figures has led to the widespread production of copies and counterfeits. Companion, BFF, Chum, Gone, Together, The Promise and various Holiday editions are among the models frequently reproduced without authorization.
Authenticating a KAWS figure requires careful examination of several elements: provenance, manufacturing quality, materials, dimensions, markings, packaging, colors and the overall consistency of the object.
However, no single characteristic can guarantee authenticity. A convincing box or accurate-looking markings are not sufficient evidence on their own.
Before purchasing a KAWS collectible on the secondary market, consult our detailed guide: How to Spot a Fake KAWS: Authentication, Counterfeits and Genuine Figures.
The issue extends beyond Brian Donnelly's work. Our guide to how to authenticate a work of art explains the main factors collectors should examine before making a purchase.
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KAWS Artwork Prices and Market Value
The KAWS art market ranges from limited-edition collectible figures to unique paintings and monumental sculptures. Prices therefore vary enormously depending on the nature, rarity and importance of the artwork.
For a KAWS figure, several characteristics influence its market value: the character represented, year of release, colorway, edition size, condition, original packaging and provenance.
Some particularly rare editions are highly sought after on the secondary market, while more widely distributed figures may remain accessible to a broader range of collectors.
It is important to distinguish between retail prices, gallery asking prices and auction results. These figures do not necessarily reflect the same market conditions, and past price increases do not guarantee future appreciation.
KAWS's commercial success has also inspired numerous artistic reinterpretations and imitations. In 2025, a creation by Slawn that visually referenced Companion generated controversy surrounding an alleged collaboration between the two artists.
Discover the story behind this controversy in our article about the rumored collaboration between Slawn and KAWS.
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Where to Buy Authentic KAWS Figures and Sculptures
When buying a KAWS figure, it is essential to verify the exact edition, dimensions, condition, provenance and, when applicable, original packaging.
Price differences between two apparently identical KAWS figures may be explained by variations in condition, documentation or ownership history.
Class Art Biarritz offers a selection of KAWS figures and sculptures for sale, including different characters and collectible editions such as Companion, Chum, BFF, Holiday, Gone, Take, Family and The Promise.
Whether you are looking for your first KAWS Companion figure or adding a rare edition to an established contemporary art collection, understanding the differences between models and editions is essential.
You can also consult our dedicated guide on where to buy KAWS figures, covering collectible models, authenticity and the main precautions to consider before purchasing.
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Further Reading: KAWS News, Exhibitions and Collectible Figures
