Gauntlet Gallery
What is KAWS’s piece called “Companion 2020 (Black)”?
Summary
Companion 2020 (Black) is a KAWS vinyl figure of his signature Companion character, rendered in a black colorway and released as part of his 2020 figure offerings. The Companion, KAWS's Mickey-Mouse-derived everyman with crossed-out X eyes and gloved cartoon body, is the core of his identity. Posed and finished in KAWS's standard high-gloss vinyl idiom, the black version reads as a sleek, monochrome interpretation of the icon. As a vinyl collectible it is more accessible than his sculptures and paintings while still carrying the full weight of the Companion motif. Specific edition size is not confirmed here.
Why It Matters
The Companion is the single most important figure in KAWS's oeuvre, the character that carried him from street artist and toy designer to global fine-art name, and any Companion vinyl release participates directly in that legacy. The crossed-out eyes fuse innocence with mortality, giving the cheerful cartoon body an undercurrent of melancholy that is central to KAWS's appeal. The 2020 Companion figures continued KAWS's long tradition, dating to the late 1990s and early 2000s, of issuing collectible vinyl versions of his characters that bridge high art and accessible collecting. The black colorway offers a graphic, high-contrast take that many collectors favor for its versatility and modern look. For the KAWS market, vinyl Companions are foundational: they built his collector base, established his crossover between art and toy worlds, and remain among the most traded and recognizable items bearing his name. Owning one connects a collection directly to the character that defines KAWS.
Collector Perspective
This figure suits collectors at many levels, from newer buyers acquiring their first Companion to established collectors completing a colorway run. The black version is prized for its clean, versatile look that suits modern shelving and display cases. Within a KAWS collection it is a core building block: the Companion is the artist's signature, so owning the figure is close to essential for a representative holding. Collectors value original boxes and pristine condition, and colorway variants invite set-building. It pairs naturally with Companion prints, dissected versions, and larger Companion sculptures, anchoring the character at the heart of a collection.
Historical Context
Companion 2020 (Black) sits in KAWS's mature contemporary phase but descends directly from his toy-and-vinyl era, when the original Companion figures, first released around 1999, established his crossover between art and collectible toys. The Companion itself emerged from KAWS's appropriation of cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse, a strategy rooted in his graffiti-era subversion of advertising imagery. By 2020 the figure was a globally recognized icon, and releases like this one extended a two-decade lineage of vinyl Companions that run parallel to his paintings and monumental sculptures, keeping the character accessible to collectors at every tier.
FAQ
What is the Companion character?
It is KAWS's signature figure, derived from Mickey Mouse, with crossed-out X eyes and gloved cartoon hands. It is the central icon of his entire body of work.
Is the black colorway special?
The black version is favored for its sleek, high-contrast, versatile look. Beyond aesthetics, its release details and edition size are not confirmed here, so we describe it generally.
Does the original box matter?
Yes. For KAWS vinyl figures, collectors place a premium on original packaging and pristine, unhandled condition, which materially affect desirability and value.
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.