Letterpress on Somerset archival paper.
Signed and numbered by the artist.
Dissected Companion (Black) by KAWS, created in 2006, is a rare letterpress print on Somerset archival paper, measuring 50 × 50 cm and limited to an edition of just 4. The work features the artist’s iconic Companion figure rendered in stark black, with one half revealing a brightly colored anatomical cross-section. With X-ed out eyes and exaggerated cartoon-like organs, the figure embodies KAWS’s critique of consumer culture and his playful yet unsettling reinterpretation of familiar pop imagery. The glow-in-the-dark palette and simplified internal anatomy lend the piece a graphic intensity and eerie charm.
KAWS (USA, 1974), born Brian Donnelly, is a contemporary artist and designer celebrated for his cartoon-inspired sculptures, paintings, and collectible toys. Merging street art and pop culture, his iconic 'Companion' figures and bold graphics have reached global audiences, bridging the worlds of fine art, fashion, and commercial design.
Mixed MediaMixed media refers to artwork that incorporates more than one medium within a single piece. Unlike multimedia art, which combines distinct forms of visual art and often includes elements like sound, video, or digital media, mixed media focuses on combining traditional art materials, such as paint, ink, and collage. Mixed media art allows artists to achieve a wide range of effects and textures by layering and blending different materials.
Letterpress on Somerset archival paper.
Signed and numbered by the artist.
Dissected Companion (Black) by KAWS, created in 2006, is a rare letterpress print on Somerset archival paper, measuring 50 × 50 cm and limited to an edition of just 4. The work features the artist’s iconic Companion figure rendered in stark black, with one half revealing a brightly colored anatomical cross-section. With X-ed out eyes and exaggerated cartoon-like organs, the figure embodies KAWS’s critique of consumer culture and his playful yet unsettling reinterpretation of familiar pop imagery. The glow-in-the-dark palette and simplified internal anatomy lend the piece a graphic intensity and eerie charm.
KAWS (USA, 1974), born Brian Donnelly, is a contemporary artist and designer celebrated for his cartoon-inspired sculptures, paintings, and collectible toys. Merging street art and pop culture, his iconic 'Companion' figures and bold graphics have reached global audiences, bridging the worlds of fine art, fashion, and commercial design.
Born Brian Donnelly but creating under a pseudonym, Kaws is an artist renowned for his acrylic paintings and sculptures that often employ repeated and distinctive graphics while reworking highly recognisable pop culture icons – Companion is one of his most notable sculptures, a large-scale, clown-like and darker take on the universally-recognised Mickey Mouse. Kaws’ early foray into art was through the form of street-graffiti; his trademark ‘x’ symbol, often applied over the hands, eyes and mouths of his characters, sprung from this phase in which Kaws would often replace public advertisements with his own artwork, a technique known as subvertising. Kaws uses a number of different materials throughout his creative processes including wood, aluminium, fiberglass and a steel pontoon inflatable raft; he has also collaborated with numerous companies and artists including Santastic! and John Mayer. (Artist website)
Hard Edge art is a style of abstract painting that became popular in the 1960s. It features areas of color separated by crisp, sharp edges that are painted with geometric precision. The term hard-edge painting was coined by art critic Jules Langsner to describe this approach, which contrasts with the softer, more fluid forms of other abstract styles.