Gauntlet Gallery
What is KAWS’s piece called “Kaws: Holiday Space (Gold)”?
Summary
Kaws: Holiday Space (Gold) is a collectible figure tied to KAWS's 'Holiday' series, in its Space iteration, rendered in a gold colorway. The KAWS:Holiday project staged giant reclining or floating Companion figures in landmark locations worldwide, and the Space edition extended the concept skyward, with an accompanying collectible figure of the reclining Companion. The gold finish gives the figure a premium, eye-catching sheen. As with other Holiday figures, it depicts the Companion in a serene, resting pose, translating a monumental public spectacle into a domestic-scale collectible. Specific edition size is not confirmed here, so it is described generally as a limited Holiday figure.
Why It Matters
The KAWS:Holiday series is one of the most significant developments in KAWS's career, taking his Companion from gallery and toy contexts into massive public installations seen by millions across cities like Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo, and beyond, with the Space edition pushing the concept literally into the stratosphere. The collectible figures released alongside each Holiday installation let a global audience own a piece of those spectacles, and they have become some of the most sought-after items in KAWS's accessible output. The reclining Companion pose, peaceful and contemplative, marked a softer, more meditative turn for the character. The gold colorway elevates the Space figure with a luxe, statement finish. For collectors, Holiday figures are prized both for their connection to landmark public events and for their strong, complete sculptural presence. They sit at the heart of KAWS's monumental-and-public phase and represent the moment his work achieved truly global, mass-cultural reach.
Collector Perspective
Holiday figures are among the most collected KAWS items, and the gold Space version appeals to collectors who want a premium-finish piece tied to a landmark installation. The gold colorway makes a bold display statement and reads as a centerpiece among shelf or case arrangements. Within a KAWS collection, Holiday figures form a coveted sub-series, and collectors frequently pursue multiple location and colorway variants, so the Space (Gold) slots into a broader Holiday set. Provenance, original packaging, and condition are important to value. The figure connects naturally to the other Holiday city editions, anchoring the public-art chapter of a collection.
Historical Context
Kaws: Holiday Space (Gold) belongs squarely to KAWS's monumental-and-holiday era, the phase in which his Companion became a global public spectacle. Beginning in the late 2010s, the KAWS:Holiday tour installed enormous Companion sculptures in iconic locations around the world, and the Space edition extended the project beyond Earth's landmarks. This phase built directly on his earlier toy, vinyl, and fine-art work, scaling the Companion into experiences witnessed by mass audiences. The accompanying collectible figures, including this gold Space version, democratized those events, and they now represent a defining, internationally recognized chapter of KAWS's practice.
FAQ
What is the KAWS:Holiday series?
It is a project in which KAWS installed giant reclining Companion sculptures in landmark locations worldwide, accompanied by collectible figures. The Space edition extended the concept beyond Earth.
Why is this version gold?
The gold colorway is a premium, statement finish for the Space figure. Its specific edition size and release details are not confirmed here, so we describe it generally.
Are Holiday figures a good collecting focus?
Holiday figures are among KAWS's most sought-after accessible items, tied to landmark public events. Collectors often pursue multiple location and colorway variants to build a set.
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.