Gauntlet Gallery
What is KAWS’s piece called “Running Chum (4 Colors)”?
Summary
Running Chum (4 Colors) depicts KAWS's Chum character mid-stride, presented as a multi-color set or composition. Chum is KAWS's appropriation of the Michelin Man (Bibendum), reimagined with the artist's signature X'd-out eyes, crossbones chest, and pillowy cartoon body. The "running" pose injects dynamism into the normally static figure, capturing Chum in motion across the four-color presentation. As a graphic edition, the work translates one of KAWS's most beloved characters into a wall-ready format, emphasizing his bold outlines, flat color planes, and the playful-yet-uncanny tone that defines the Chum series.
Why It Matters
Chum is one of KAWS's signature characters and a direct descendant of his appropriation strategy, transforming the corporate Michelin mascot into a vehicle for his recurring X-eyes and crossbones — symbols of mortality smuggled into a friendly, advertising-derived body. Running Chum extends this lineage by animating the figure, and the four-color presentation showcases KAWS's command of flat, poster-like color, the formal trait that makes his work instantly legible. Within his catalog, Chum sits alongside the Companion as a core character, and editions like this are central to how collectors access the series affordably. The work embodies KAWS's full arc: it appropriates a consumer icon (street-art and advertising roots), deploys his toy-era character vocabulary, and presents it in the clean, collectible graphic form of his fine-art maturity. The dynamic running pose and multi-color treatment make it especially appealing visually, and the Chum series' strong recognition ensures durable collector interest across the broader KAWS market.
Collector Perspective
Running Chum appeals to collectors focused on the Chum series and on KAWS's appropriation of corporate mascots, as well as buyers who want a bold, graphic, instantly recognizable wall piece. The four-color presentation makes it visually punchy and a strong focal point in modern interiors. Within a collection it complements other Chum works and pairs naturally with Companion pieces to represent KAWS's two signature characters. Collectors value the dynamic pose, color integrity, and series recognition; condition and flatness drive desirability for graphic editions. It suits both dedicated KAWS collectors and design-led buyers seeking high-impact pop imagery with conceptual depth beneath the surface.
Historical Context
Chum originates in KAWS's appropriation practice, taking the Michelin Man — itself a century-old advertising icon — and rebuilding it with his X-eyes and crossbones during his toy-and-vinyl era. The character became a mainstay across vinyl figures, paintings, and prints as KAWS matured into a fine-art and eventually monumental practice. Running Chum belongs to the ongoing editioning of this character, carrying the appropriation concept forward into a dynamic graphic format. It reflects the trajectory from street-level ad subversion to globally collected pop art, with Chum serving as a consistent emblem of how KAWS converts corporate iconography into personal, mortality-tinged imagery.
FAQ
Who is Chum?
Chum is KAWS's appropriation of the Michelin Man, redrawn with his signature X'd-out eyes, crossbones, and pillowy cartoon body.
What does the '4 Colors' mean?
It refers to the multi-color presentation or set of the Running Chum image; confirm exact configuration and edition with the seller.
How does Chum relate to the Companion?
Chum and the Companion are KAWS's two signature characters; both deploy his X-eyes and pop-appropriation strategy.
What makes the running pose notable?
It animates a normally static figure, giving the composition dynamism that sets it apart from standing Chum works.
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.