Dissected Companion Print (Brown)
by KAWS
Year: 2006
Medium: Screen print
Size: 20 × 20 in (50.8 × 50.8 cm)
Edition of 100
Emerging from KAWS’ influential exploration of character and form, Dissected Companion Print (Brown) (2006) is a screenprint measuring 20 × 20 inches (50.8 × 50.8 cm), produced in a limited edition of 100. The work reimagines the iconic Companion figure through a dissected composition, revealing themes of identity, vulnerability, and contemporary culture. Its scarce edition, distinctive imagery, and established significance make it a compelling acquisition for collectors.
Dissected Companion Print (Brown) is a significant graphic work by KAWS that brings one of the artist’s most recognizable sculptural concepts into the print medium. First released through KAWS’ studio and gallery edition practice, the work was created as a fine art print rather than a street graffiti piece. While KAWS built his early reputation through urban interventions and altered advertisements, this print belongs to his mature period of limited-edition works that expanded his influence within contemporary art.
The brown Dissected Companion reveals the internal structure of KAWS’ iconic character, creating a powerful visual metaphor for self-reflection and emotional honesty. The exposed form represents vulnerability, hidden identity, and the layers beneath outward appearances. By combining a familiar cartoon-inspired figure with anatomical fragmentation, KAWS explores themes of memory, humanity, and the contrast between public image and private experience.
Collectors value Dissected Companion Print (Brown) for its iconic imagery, limited edition status, and importance within KAWS’ celebrated Companion series. Its distinctive colorway and connection to one of the artist’s most sought-after motifs continue to drive strong global demand.
At ArtLife Gallery, we consider this print an essential work from KAWS’ defining era. Closely connected to Dissected Companion, Four Foot Companion, Companion Blush, and Five Years Later Companion, it demonstrates the artist’s ability to transform a simple character into a lasting symbol of contemporary culture.
KAWS, born Brian Donnelly in Jersey City in 1974, has become one of contemporary art’s most recognisable figures by moving between street art, fine art, fashion, and design. After studying illustration at New York’s School of Visual Arts, he worked in animation while developing a graffiti practice that soon evolved into a distinctive artistic language.
His iconic characters, including Companion, BFF, Chum, and Accomplice, blend cartoon-inspired forms with X-shaped eyes and expressive gestures. Beneath their playful appearance, KAWS explores isolation, friendship, consumer culture, and human connection. These figures have appeared across paintings, sculptures, drawings, vinyl editions, and public works, creating a visual identity that is instantly recognisable.
Collaboration became a defining part of his career. Partnerships with Medicom Toy, Uniqlo, Nike, Dior, Supreme, and other global names helped blur the boundaries between contemporary art, fashion, product design, and popular culture. His Tokyo label, OriginalFake, strengthened this crossover during the 2000s. Even today, KAWS’ approach to collaboration shows how art can move naturally between galleries, retail spaces, and everyday life.
KAWS has exhibited internationally at major museums and institutions, presenting paintings, sculptures, drawings, and collectibles to audiences far beyond the traditional gallery system. His ability to pair accessibility with artistic ambition has made him a defining figure in 21st-century visual culture. This wide reach also helps explain why KAWS has become so famous.
His influence extends into the global art market, where scarcity, edition size, provenance, condition, and cultural significance can affect value. For anyone considering investing in KAWS art, understanding the factors behind his investment market and the prices achieved at auction offers useful context for evaluating his enduring position in contemporary art.
More KAWS Works to Explore
Dissected Companion Print (Brown)
by KAWS
Year: 2006
Medium: Screen print
Size: 20 × 20 in (50.8 × 50.8 cm)
Edition of 100
Emerging from KAWS’ influential exploration of character and form, Dissected Companion Print (Brown) (2006) is a screenprint measuring 20 × 20 inches (50.8 × 50.8 cm), produced in a limited edition of 100. The work reimagines the iconic Companion figure through a dissected composition, revealing themes of identity, vulnerability, and contemporary culture. Its scarce edition, distinctive imagery, and established significance make it a compelling acquisition for collectors.
Dissected Companion Print (Brown) is a significant graphic work by KAWS that brings one of the artist’s most recognizable sculptural concepts into the print medium. First released through KAWS’ studio and gallery edition practice, the work was created as a fine art print rather than a street graffiti piece. While KAWS built his early reputation through urban interventions and altered advertisements, this print belongs to his mature period of limited-edition works that expanded his influence within contemporary art.
The brown Dissected Companion reveals the internal structure of KAWS’ iconic character, creating a powerful visual metaphor for self-reflection and emotional honesty. The exposed form represents vulnerability, hidden identity, and the layers beneath outward appearances. By combining a familiar cartoon-inspired figure with anatomical fragmentation, KAWS explores themes of memory, humanity, and the contrast between public image and private experience.
Collectors value Dissected Companion Print (Brown) for its iconic imagery, limited edition status, and importance within KAWS’ celebrated Companion series. Its distinctive colorway and connection to one of the artist’s most sought-after motifs continue to drive strong global demand.
At ArtLife Gallery, we consider this print an essential work from KAWS’ defining era. Closely connected to Dissected Companion, Four Foot Companion, Companion Blush, and Five Years Later Companion, it demonstrates the artist’s ability to transform a simple character into a lasting symbol of contemporary culture.
KAWS, born Brian Donnelly in Jersey City in 1974, has become one of contemporary art’s most recognisable figures by moving between street art, fine art, fashion, and design. After studying illustration at New York’s School of Visual Arts, he worked in animation while developing a graffiti practice that soon evolved into a distinctive artistic language.
His iconic characters, including Companion, BFF, Chum, and Accomplice, blend cartoon-inspired forms with X-shaped eyes and expressive gestures. Beneath their playful appearance, KAWS explores isolation, friendship, consumer culture, and human connection. These figures have appeared across paintings, sculptures, drawings, vinyl editions, and public works, creating a visual identity that is instantly recognisable.
Collaboration became a defining part of his career. Partnerships with Medicom Toy, Uniqlo, Nike, Dior, Supreme, and other global names helped blur the boundaries between contemporary art, fashion, product design, and popular culture. His Tokyo label, OriginalFake, strengthened this crossover during the 2000s. Even today, KAWS’ approach to collaboration shows how art can move naturally between galleries, retail spaces, and everyday life.
KAWS has exhibited internationally at major museums and institutions, presenting paintings, sculptures, drawings, and collectibles to audiences far beyond the traditional gallery system. His ability to pair accessibility with artistic ambition has made him a defining figure in 21st-century visual culture. This wide reach also helps explain why KAWS has become so famous.
His influence extends into the global art market, where scarcity, edition size, provenance, condition, and cultural significance can affect value. For anyone considering investing in KAWS art, understanding the factors behind his investment market and the prices achieved at auction offers useful context for evaluating his enduring position in contemporary art.