Brooklyn-based artist Brian Donnelly, known as KAWS, is one of the most prolific street artists in the world. Donnelly got his start with 2D artwork and graffiti, and today, his catalog of work includes vinyl and plush figures alongside art prints.
KAWS Companion Figures, specifically, have become universally associated with Donnelly’s work, depicting his figures in striking poses that are often melancholic in nature. Alongside the Companion, KAWS has released figures that rework characters from Sesame Street and Disney, alongside other collaborations with artists that have propelled Donnelly’s popularity.
Throughout an over two-decade tenure, KAWS has released Companion Figures revered for their design or collaborative efforts, making them some of the most popular and sought-after collectibles on StockX.
In no particular order, here are the best KAWS Figures available now on StockX. This list includes a mix of rare, high-valued figures alongside big collaborations and iconic designs.
KAWS Holiday Space Figure
The impact of KAWS’ art has even reached space, beyond the jurisdiction of Earth. Prior to release, KAWS collaborated with All Rights Reserved to send the KAWS Holiday Space Figure to space. The artist shared videos and photos of the toy tied to a weather balloon, which traveled over 135,000 feet above the ground before safely returning to Earth. The KAWS Holiday Space Figure references the artist’s iconic MTV Moonman Trophy used for the 2013 MTV VMAs. The journey made by the KAWS Holiday Space Figure makes it one of the most popular and coveted releases in the past few years, adding a sentimental charm to an already visually stunning piece.
The KAWS Holiday Space Figure was released on the DDT Store website on August 17th, 2020, for a retail price of $390 USD, and stands 11.5 inches tall.
KAWS Companion Flayed Open Edition Vinyl Figure
Perhaps one of the most instantly recognizable pieces of KAWS’ work is the various iterations of the “Flayed Open” Companion Figure. In 2016, KAWS released a full series of six different companions that included both full-body and flayed versions of the classic character. The collection dropped in November of 2016 in conjunction with his “Where The End Starts” exhibit in Fort Worth, Texas. The figures were released through KAWSONE, MoMA, and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and stand at 11 inches tall.
The KAWS Companion Flayed Open Edition Vinyl Figure in Brown features an open-body design with various shades of brown and beige on both the interior and outside and it all comes sealed in clear blister packaging.
The “flayed open” side of the piece features highly-detailed depictions of the humanoid anatomy, including organs, arteries, and even stunning muscle fibers on the arm. It’s a thought-provoking, almost uncomfortable piece to witness at first glance, and has gone down as a seminal piece of work by KAWS.
KAWS Separated Vinyl Figure
If the Flayed Open KAWS Companion Figures are revered for their detailed design, the KAWS Separated Vinyl Figure is iconic for its pose. The KAWS Separated Figure in Gray features his classic companion character in a seated position with its head down, face in hands. In 2021, KAWS dropped the Separated Vinyl Figure to commemorate the groundbreaking WHAT PARTY exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum.
Today, two giant KAWS Companion Figures made of different shades of wood stand at the Brooklyn Museum, towering 18 feet above the ground. The sculptures pay homage to KAWS’ Brooklyn roots, perhaps a nod to never forget where you came from.
KAWS What Party Vinyl Figure
KAWS’ Chum character originally debuted in 2002, featuring the head of a Companion Figure with a body full of folds, almost reminiscent of the Michelin Man. Chum made its return on September 1st, 2020 in five different colors: black, white, orange, pink, and yellow.
Each figure stands with dimensions of 11.3 x 5.1 x 3.7 inches, and showcases the Chum character bent over in a saddened state. While each colorway is sought-after in its own right, the full set is available on StockX for dedicated collectors, trading at an average price of $1,800.
For the serious KAWS collectors, Chum character releases are few and far between, making it one of the rarest figures released to date. The original 2002 release figures trade for around $4,000 on StockX, a testament to the value of the character as a whole, whereas this featured release is much more affordable.
KAWS Gone Figure
The various poses depicted by KAWS’ Companion Figures are almost as iconic as the designs. This is particularly true for the iconic KAWS Gone Figure, which depicts a Companion carrying what appears to be a sleeping version of one of his other popular characters, the BFF. The figure dropped in 2019, which was a busy year of releases for KAWS. The KAWS Gone Figure dropped in three colorways, all of which trade for at least $1,300 on StockX.
While the Companion and BFF have been featured together as plush figures, this release was the first time KAWS released both as vinyl figures as a pair, adding to its popularity and value. The KAWS Gone Figure was released on September 19th, 2019, and retailed for $645 USD, selling out instantly.
KAWS Pinocchio & Jiminy Cricket Vinyl Figure
The KAWS Pinocchio Figure is one of the all-time grails among KAWS collectors, limited to only 500 figures when it was released over a decade ago in 2010. The set includes highly-detailed painted cast vinyl of Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket. Each figure set showcases the characters in their classic clothing from the 1940 movie Pinocchio, albeit with a KAWS twist. The characters are posing with their hands covering the eyes, showcasing the classic X motifs along with the head shape of the Companion Figure.
The KAWS Pinocchio & Jiminy Cricket Vinyl Figure is one of the rarest and most expensive KAWS figures currently on the market. According to our data, the average sale price of the set is $8,302, a price premium of over 4000% from its original retail price of $200. There are only nine active listings and the rarity of the piece with only increase with time.
KAWS Astro Boy Vinyl Figure
First released in 1952 in Japan as a 23-volume manga, Astro Boy later became the first anime TV series with a sequential plot, cementing itself in history as one of the most iconic characters in Japan and throughout the world. In 2012, KAWS celebrated the cultural impact and longevity of Astro Boy with the Astro Boy Vinyl Figure, depicting the Astro Boy in his iconic black tights, knee-high red boots, and pointy black hair. KAWS depicted Astro Boy with one hand on his face in a slightly slouched position, perhaps paying homage to the shy, sometimes timid characteristics of the character.
Astro Boy is a robot, and the character’s struggles often mirror the idea that machines can never truly be human, no matter how perfectly programmed. It’s a melancholy undertone evident throughout the series, even as Astro Boy learns how to become “human” through interactions. KAWS’ depiction of Astro Boy appears to showcase this sentiment and has become one of the most sought-after figures in his catalog.
Despite retailing at $200, the KAWS Astro Boy Vinyl Figure trades for an average price of $5,600, making it one of the rarest and most expensive figures on this list.
KAWS x Peanuts Joe Snoopy Vinyl Figure
The KAWS x Peanuts Joe Snoopy Vinyl Figure was a collaborative effort between KAWS and Peanuts, bringing Snoopy to the KAWS catalog. Unlike most KAWS figures, the Snoopy Vinyl doesn’t share physical attributes of the Companion besides the “X” motif over the eyes and sunglasses.
Snoopy stands at 8 inches tall and is wearing a yellow shirt that says “Joe KAWS” over the front. The character is wearing removable sunglasses and is packaged inside a box that features an image of Snoopy leaning on his dog house with the “Joe KAWS” shirt. While the KAWS x Peanuts Joe Snoopy Vinyl Figure isn’t the rarest on the list, it is one of the most iconic collaborations KAWS has ever released. If Snoopy isn’t your favorite, KAWS and Peanuts also released a Woodstock Vinyl Figure that is equally as sought-after. And if a figure is a little too hard to fathom, the collaborative duo brought UNIQLO into the mix for a series of plushies that are also available on StockX.
KAWS Holiday Changbai Mountain Vinyl Figure
KAWS celebrated the start of 2022 with the Holiday Changbai Mountain Vinyl Figure. The figure was his first release of 2022 and is the latest Holiday drop since the Holiday Singapore was released in November 2021. The set features a stunning snowy white depicting two Companion figures, a bigger Companion sitting down with a smaller one leaning against the larger body. The off-white cream color allows the intricate details of the figure to pop, highlighting KAWS’ understanding of proportions, body language, and striking poses that provoke emotion.
As the first release of 2022, the KAWS Holiday Changbai Mountain Vinyl Figure is hopefully a great start to another successful year for the artist. To shop our full catalog of KAWS Vinyl Figures, click here.
