Gauntlet Gallery
What is KAWS’s piece called “Running Chum (2) (Black On Black)”?
Summary
Part of KAWS's Running Chum print series, this 'Black On Black' edition depicts the CHUM character — his reworking of the Michelin Man (Bibendum) — in a dynamic running pose. The tonal black-on-black treatment renders the rounded, stacked-tire figure and its X-eyed face in a subtle, low-contrast palette, emphasizing silhouette and form over color. As one of several variants in the Running Chum group, it translates KAWS's stout advertising-derived mascot into a sense of motion, presented in his flat, bold graphic style. The restrained colorway gives the edition a moody, graphic sophistication distinct from the brighter versions in the set.
Why It Matters
CHUM is one of KAWS's foundational appropriated characters, and the Running Chum series animates that figure, giving the normally static mascot a sense of forward movement that is unusual within his print output. The black-on-black variant is a deliberately understated treatment that appeals to collectors who favor tonal, design-forward editions over high-contrast color. As a set, the Running Chum prints reward completist collecting, with each variant offering a different palette of the same energetic pose. The series underscores KAWS's roots in advertising and cartoon appropriation while demonstrating his attention to print as a medium with its own formal possibilities. For collectors, owning a Running Chum edition connects to the CHUM lineage that runs alongside Companion as a pillar of his invented-character vocabulary, and the black-on-black version in particular stands out as a refined, gallery-friendly object.
Collector Perspective
This edition appeals to collectors of KAWS's CHUM character and to those who appreciate restrained, tonal works that read as sophisticated design objects. The black-on-black palette suits darker or minimalist interiors and contrasts with the brighter Running Chum variants, making it a distinctive choice within the set. It naturally pairs with the other Running Chum prints for collectors pursuing the full group, and with standalone CHUM editions. As with all KAWS prints, signature, edition details, condition, and authentication are the principal value drivers, and the subtle palette makes condition and surface especially important to display quality.
Historical Context
CHUM dates to KAWS's late-1990s and early-2000s appropriation of the Michelin Man, a period when he was transforming commercial mascots into recurring characters across paintings, prints, and vinyl toys. The Running Chum series belongs to his ongoing editions practice, extending the CHUM figure into new compositions long after its origin. It reflects the mature phase in which KAWS's invented characters had become established enough to support series and variants, and in which print remained a key vehicle for reaching his broad collector base. The black-on-black treatment shows his continued experimentation with palette and surface within a familiar iconography.
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 variants.
What does 'Black On Black' mean here?
It refers to a tonal, low-contrast colorway in which the figure and background sit in close shades of black, emphasizing silhouette over color.
Does this pair with other Running Chum prints?
Yes — collectors often pursue the Running Chum variants as a set, including the numbered and multi-color versions.
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.