Gauntlet Gallery
What is KAWS’s piece called “Running Chum (1)”?
Summary
The first numbered edition in KAWS's Running Chum print series, depicting his CHUM character — a reworking of the Michelin Man (Bibendum) — in a dynamic running pose. The stout, stacked-tire figure with X-ed-out eyes is rendered in KAWS's flat, bold graphic style with crisp outlines, captured mid-stride to suggest motion. As the opening variant in the set, Running Chum (1) presents the energetic composition that the other versions reprise across different palettes, distilling KAWS's advertising-derived mascot into a lively, collectible image.
Why It Matters
CHUM is one of KAWS's foundational appropriated characters, sitting alongside Companion as a pillar of his invented-character vocabulary, and the Running Chum series gives that normally static mascot a rare sense of forward movement. As the first numbered edition in the set, Running Chum (1) anchors the group and is a natural cornerstone for collectors pursuing the full series. The series highlights KAWS's roots in advertising and cartoon appropriation while showing his command of print as a medium with its own compositional energy. For collectors, owning Running Chum (1) connects to the CHUM lineage that traces back to KAWS's earliest appropriation works, and its accessible graphic clarity makes it an approachable yet meaningful holding. The numbered, motion-driven format also encourages completist collecting across the related variants, reinforcing the series' appeal.
Collector Perspective
Running Chum (1) suits collectors of KAWS's CHUM character and those building out the Running Chum set, where it functions as the lead variant. Its lively pose and clean graphic style make it an engaging display piece that reads well from a distance and pairs naturally with the other numbered and multi-color versions. It also complements standalone CHUM editions and CHUM appropriation prints, fitting into a focused CHUM grouping or a broader survey of KAWS's characters. As always, signature, edition details, condition, and authentication are the key value drivers in the KAWS editions market.
Historical Context
CHUM originated in KAWS's late-1990s and early-2000s appropriation of the Michelin Man, when he was converting commercial mascots into recurring characters across paintings, prints, and vinyl toys. The Running Chum series belongs to his continuing editions practice, revisiting the CHUM figure in fresh compositions well after its debut. It reflects the mature phase in which his invented characters were established enough to sustain numbered series and color variants, with print serving as a primary means of reaching his broad audience. Running Chum (1), as the opening edition, marks the entry point into this particular extension of the CHUM lineage.
FAQ
What is the Running Chum series?
It is a group of KAWS prints depicting his CHUM character — a reworking of the Michelin Man — in a running pose, released across several numbered and color variants.
Is Running Chum (1) the first in the set?
As the '(1)' edition, it is the opening numbered variant in the Running Chum group, with later versions reprising the pose in different palettes.
Who is the CHUM character?
CHUM is KAWS's reworking of the Michelin Man (Bibendum), given X eyes and his signature styling — a foundational character alongside Companion.
Is this a signed limited edition?
It is presented as a limited screenprint edition. Confirm signature, edition size, and authentication directly before purchase.
Related Works
About the Artist
KAWS is the working name of Brian Donnelly (b. 1974, Jersey City). He began in the 1990s subverting bus-shelter and phone-booth advertisements, then built a singular visual language around the Companion — a Mickey-Mouse-descended figure with crossed-out X eyes — alongside Chum, BFF, Accomplice and a cast of appropriated cartoon characters. His practice spans paintings, screenprints, vinyl and bronze sculpture, and the monumental KAWS:Holiday installations shown in cities worldwide. His work is held by the Brooklyn Museum, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and major private collections, and he is among the most collected artists of his generation.