Dissected Companion 2006 (Black)
by KAWS
Year: 2006
Medium: Painted Cast Vinyl
Size: 14.75 x 6.25 x 3.25 inches
Edition of 500
An important early example of KAWS’ collectible sculpture practice, Dissected Companion 2006 (Black) (2006) is a painted cast vinyl work measuring 14.75 × 6.25 × 3.25 inches, issued in an edition of 500 and stamped beneath the foot. The piece reimagines the artist’s iconic Companion through a dissected form, exploring themes of identity, emotion, and contemporary culture. Its authenticated stamp, accessible edition size, and lasting significance make it a desirable addition for collectors.
Dissected Companion 2006 (Black) is a pivotal sculpture from KAWS’ early fine art period, marking an important moment in the artist’s transition from street-based interventions into the global contemporary art market. First introduced through KAWS’ studio practice and gallery exhibitions, the work was created as a sculptural artwork and does not have a street graffiti version. Its complex three-dimensional form and fabrication process required the controlled environment of the studio rather than the public surfaces that defined KAWS’ early graffiti work.
The dissected Companion reveals the internal structure of KAWS’ most iconic character, transforming a familiar figure into a meditation on identity, vulnerability, and human complexity. The black finish gives the sculpture a striking, timeless presence while emphasizing themes of introspection, mortality, and the contrast between external appearance and inner reality.
Collectors consider Dissected Companion 2006 (Black) a historically significant work because it captures KAWS at a crucial stage of artistic evolution. Its rarity, early production date, and importance within the Companion series contribute to strong demand among serious contemporary art collectors.
At ArtLife Gallery, we view this sculpture as a foundational piece in KAWS’ career. Closely related to Four Foot Dissected Companion, Companion, and later sculptural editions, it represents the period when KAWS transformed a street-derived character into a globally recognized symbol of contemporary art.
KAWS, born Brian Donnelly in Jersey City in 1974, has become one of contemporary art’s most recognisable figures by moving between street art, fine art, fashion, and design. After studying illustration at New York’s School of Visual Arts, he worked in animation while developing a graffiti practice that soon evolved into a distinctive artistic language.
His iconic characters, including Companion, BFF, Chum, and Accomplice, blend cartoon-inspired forms with X-shaped eyes and expressive gestures. Beneath their playful appearance, KAWS explores isolation, friendship, consumer culture, and human connection. These figures have appeared across paintings, sculptures, drawings, vinyl editions, and public works, creating a visual identity that is instantly recognisable.
Collaboration became a defining part of his career. Partnerships with Medicom Toy, Uniqlo, Nike, Dior, Supreme, and other global names helped blur the boundaries between contemporary art, fashion, product design, and popular culture. His Tokyo label, OriginalFake, strengthened this crossover during the 2000s. Even today, KAWS’ approach to collaboration shows how art can move naturally between galleries, retail spaces, and everyday life.
KAWS has exhibited internationally at major museums and institutions, presenting paintings, sculptures, drawings, and collectibles to audiences far beyond the traditional gallery system. His ability to pair accessibility with artistic ambition has made him a defining figure in 21st-century visual culture. This wide reach also helps explain why KAWS has become so famous.
His influence extends into the global art market, where scarcity, edition size, provenance, condition, and cultural significance can affect value. For anyone considering investing in KAWS art, understanding the factors behind his investment market and the prices achieved at auction offers useful context for evaluating his enduring position in contemporary art.
More KAWS Works to Explore
Dissected Companion 2006 (Black)
by KAWS
Year: 2006
Medium: Painted Cast Vinyl
Size: 14.75 x 6.25 x 3.25 inches
Edition of 500
An important early example of KAWS’ collectible sculpture practice, Dissected Companion 2006 (Black) (2006) is a painted cast vinyl work measuring 14.75 × 6.25 × 3.25 inches, issued in an edition of 500 and stamped beneath the foot. The piece reimagines the artist’s iconic Companion through a dissected form, exploring themes of identity, emotion, and contemporary culture. Its authenticated stamp, accessible edition size, and lasting significance make it a desirable addition for collectors.
Dissected Companion 2006 (Black) is a pivotal sculpture from KAWS’ early fine art period, marking an important moment in the artist’s transition from street-based interventions into the global contemporary art market. First introduced through KAWS’ studio practice and gallery exhibitions, the work was created as a sculptural artwork and does not have a street graffiti version. Its complex three-dimensional form and fabrication process required the controlled environment of the studio rather than the public surfaces that defined KAWS’ early graffiti work.
The dissected Companion reveals the internal structure of KAWS’ most iconic character, transforming a familiar figure into a meditation on identity, vulnerability, and human complexity. The black finish gives the sculpture a striking, timeless presence while emphasizing themes of introspection, mortality, and the contrast between external appearance and inner reality.
Collectors consider Dissected Companion 2006 (Black) a historically significant work because it captures KAWS at a crucial stage of artistic evolution. Its rarity, early production date, and importance within the Companion series contribute to strong demand among serious contemporary art collectors.
At ArtLife Gallery, we view this sculpture as a foundational piece in KAWS’ career. Closely related to Four Foot Dissected Companion, Companion, and later sculptural editions, it represents the period when KAWS transformed a street-derived character into a globally recognized symbol of contemporary art.
KAWS, born Brian Donnelly in Jersey City in 1974, has become one of contemporary art’s most recognisable figures by moving between street art, fine art, fashion, and design. After studying illustration at New York’s School of Visual Arts, he worked in animation while developing a graffiti practice that soon evolved into a distinctive artistic language.
His iconic characters, including Companion, BFF, Chum, and Accomplice, blend cartoon-inspired forms with X-shaped eyes and expressive gestures. Beneath their playful appearance, KAWS explores isolation, friendship, consumer culture, and human connection. These figures have appeared across paintings, sculptures, drawings, vinyl editions, and public works, creating a visual identity that is instantly recognisable.
Collaboration became a defining part of his career. Partnerships with Medicom Toy, Uniqlo, Nike, Dior, Supreme, and other global names helped blur the boundaries between contemporary art, fashion, product design, and popular culture. His Tokyo label, OriginalFake, strengthened this crossover during the 2000s. Even today, KAWS’ approach to collaboration shows how art can move naturally between galleries, retail spaces, and everyday life.
KAWS has exhibited internationally at major museums and institutions, presenting paintings, sculptures, drawings, and collectibles to audiences far beyond the traditional gallery system. His ability to pair accessibility with artistic ambition has made him a defining figure in 21st-century visual culture. This wide reach also helps explain why KAWS has become so famous.
His influence extends into the global art market, where scarcity, edition size, provenance, condition, and cultural significance can affect value. For anyone considering investing in KAWS art, understanding the factors behind his investment market and the prices achieved at auction offers useful context for evaluating his enduring position in contemporary art.