Gauntlet Gallery
What is KAWS’s piece called “Time Together”?
Summary
Time Together depicts KAWS's Companion and an accompanying figure shown in a moment of closeness, part of his ongoing exploration of companionship, intimacy, and quiet emotion. The composition pairs his signature gloved, X-eyed characters in an embrace or shared gesture, rendered in the flat, graphic, hard-edged style that defines his print and painting output. As a screenprint-feel edition, it channels the melancholy tenderness that runs through KAWS's mature work, where cartoon forms carry decidedly human feeling. The title's emphasis on shared time aligns it with a cluster of related 'Time' works that meditate on togetherness, separation, and the passage of moments between his characters.
Why It Matters
Time Together sits within a thematically connected group of KAWS works that use his characters to stage human emotional narratives, a shift that distinguishes his fine-art maturity from his earlier toy and street output. By posing Companion in tender proximity to another figure, KAWS converts pop-cultural shorthand into a vehicle for feelings of attachment, loss, and the bittersweet awareness of time passing. This emotional legibility is central to why his work resonates so broadly: the imagery is instantly accessible yet quietly poignant. Editions like this one are prized because they distill that emotional core into a wall-ready format, making the museum-scale sensibility of his paintings collectible. The work's value also derives from its place in a recognizable suite alongside Time Off and related 'Together' compositions, which collectors map as a coherent narrative arc. For the market, such pieces represent the blue-chip tier of KAWS editions, where strong imagery, clear thematic resonance, and series coherence converge to support sustained demand.
Collector Perspective
Time Together draws serious KAWS collectors who prize the emotionally resonant Companion-and-family compositions over purely graphic pieces. Its tender subject and large, confident forms make it a centerpiece work, suited to prominent display where its narrative reads from across a room. Within a collection it anchors a thematic grouping around companionship and the passage of time, pairing naturally with the related Time Off and Together editions. Given the higher price point implied here, buyers should prioritize verified provenance, edition documentation, and pristine condition, and should treat it as a flagship-tier acquisition rather than an entry-level print.
Historical Context
Time Together belongs to KAWS's Companion and fine-art era, when Brian Donnelly moved decisively from editioned toys into ambitious paintings, prints, and sculptures exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide. The Companion character, originally a vinyl figure, here serves as a fully realized artistic subject capable of carrying emotional weight. The work reflects KAWS's signature fusion of cartoon appropriation with genuine pathos, a synthesis rooted in his graffiti-era instinct for instantly readable imagery but elevated into contemplative fine art. Its place in a 'Time'-themed cluster underscores how he organizes his mature output into interrelated emotional narratives rather than isolated images.
FAQ
What does Time Together depict?
It shows KAWS's Companion paired closely with another figure in a moment of intimacy, part of his recurring exploration of companionship and the passage of time.
Is it related to other KAWS works?
Yes. It sits within a thematic cluster alongside Together and the Time Off editions, which share its focus on togetherness, separation, and emotional connection.
Why is it priced higher than many KAWS prints?
Emotionally resonant, large-scale Companion compositions occupy the upper tier of KAWS's market. Exact value depends on edition, condition, and provenance, which should be independently verified.
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.