BE@RBRICK has collaborated with over 500 brands, artists, and franchises since 2001, including KAWS, the Andy Warhol Foundation, Supreme, Comme des Garçons, Dior (Virgil Abloh era), Jean-Michel Basquiat Estate, Keith Haring Foundation, Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Evangelion, Gundam, and Japan's most influential streetwear houses — Mastermind Japan, NEIGHBORHOOD, Wtaps, Human Made, and Bape/AAPE.
Produced by Medicom Toy of Tokyo and first released in 2001, BE@RBRICK has evolved into one of the most actively traded categories in the global designer toy and contemporary art markets. At Gauntlet Gallery, founded in 2012, our authentication and pricing models draw on 160,000+ comparable sales across the authenticated art and collectibles market, with deep BE@RBRICK provenance data informing every acquisition.
The Three Pillars of BE@RBRICK Collaboration Value
Not all collaborations carry equal weight on the secondary market. Three forces drive long-term value: artist pedigree, edition scarcity, and cultural permanence. A 1000% (70cm) figure from a blue-chip artist collaboration can clear $25,000–$200,000 at auction, while a mass-produced licensing tie-in in the same 1000% format may sit under $1,500. Understanding the tier system is the difference between a trophy acquisition and a depreciating shelf piece.
Format Standards
BE@RBRICK is produced across multiple scales. The two most collected sizes are:
- 400% — 28cm tall. The standard "art toy" display scale and the most liquid resale format.
- 1000% — 70cm tall. The trophy scale, reserved for blue-chip collaborations and the highest-grossing pieces at Phillips and Sotheby's.
For a full breakdown of every size, including 50%, 70%, 100%, and 200% formats, see our complete guide to BE@RBRICK sizes, authentication, and value.
Fine Art Foundations and Estates
The collaborations that have shaped BE@RBRICK's status as an investment-grade collectible are those tied to fine art estates and major living artists. These pieces are bought by the same collectors who pursue editioned prints from the secondary market.
KAWS (Brian Donnelly)
The defining BE@RBRICK partnership. KAWS entered collaboration with Medicom in 2002 and continues to release new figures alongside his original art practice. KAWS 1000% releases — particularly Companion, Dissected Companion, and BFF figures — regularly clear $15,000–$60,000 at auction. The "Original Fake" series and grey/brown/black colorways are among the most counterfeited pieces in the category.
The Andy Warhol Foundation
Warhol Foundation BE@RBRICKs reproduce Campbell's Soup, Flowers, Marilyn, and Self-Portrait imagery across 100%, 400%, and 1000% scales. They consistently outperform other licensing tie-ins because the underlying imagery carries blue-chip auction recognition.
Jean-Michel Basquiat Estate
Released across multiple series (V1 through V10 as of 2024), Basquiat BE@RBRICKs apply original SAMO-era imagery to the figure silhouette. The 1000% versions trade in the $4,000–$12,000 range depending on series and condition.
Keith Haring Foundation
Haring's instantly recognizable line work translates exceptionally well to the BE@RBRICK silhouette. The black-on-yellow and Radiant Baby variants are the most active.
Jackson Pollock Studio
The "Splash" collaborations reproduce Pollock's drip technique across the entire figure. These are among the most visually striking BE@RBRICKs ever produced and have a dedicated collector base.
Fashion House Collaborations
Luxury fashion collaborations represent the highest-velocity segment of the BE@RBRICK market — pieces designed for streetwear collectors first, art collectors second.
| Collaboration | Era | Notable Releases |
|---|---|---|
| Dior (Virgil Abloh) | 2019–2021 | Dior Homme 1000%, Atelier print 400%/1000% |
| Supreme | 2006–present | Camo, box logo, monogram releases |
| Comme des Garçons | 2004–present | CDG black/white, Play heart variants |
| Bape / A Bathing Ape | 2002–present | 1st Camo, ABC Camo, Baby Milo |
| Chanel | Limited | Internal client-gift pieces — extremely rare |
Japanese Streetwear Pillars
Japan's heritage streetwear houses produce some of the most desirable BE@RBRICKs for serious collectors. Mastermind Japan skull-and-crossbones releases command consistent premiums. NEIGHBORHOOD, Wtaps, and Human Made (Nigo's post-Bape label) each have multi-release histories with strong domestic and international resale demand.
Pop Culture and Franchise Licensing
Licensed franchise BE@RBRICKs are the entry point for many collectors and represent the highest unit volume of any tier, though they generally clear lower average secondary prices than artist or fashion collaborations.
Disney and Marvel
Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Buzz Lightyear, Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Captain America have all appeared across 100%, 400%, and 1000% scales. The Disney 100th Anniversary releases drove notable 2024 price spikes.
Star Wars
Stormtrooper, Darth Vader, Boba Fett, and Mandalorian variants are consistently active on the secondary market, with chrome and gold-plated 400% editions outperforming standard colorways.
Anime: Evangelion and Gundam
Evangelion EVA-01, EVA-02, and Asuka/Rei variants — alongside Gundam RX-78-2 and Char's Zaku editions — anchor the anime collector segment. Futura collaborations also sit in this overlap between fine art and Japanese pop culture.
Authentication: OneCOA and NFC Chip Verification
Counterfeit rates on open resale platforms for BE@RBRICK exceed 45–60% depending on the release. For newer figures, Medicom Toy embeds NFC chip OneCOA authentication directly into the figure — a tap-to-verify system that confirms factory origin. At Gauntlet Gallery, every BE@RBRICK we list is cross-checked against Medicom production records, comparable sales data, and where applicable, NFC chip verification.
How Collaboration Tier Determines Secondary Value
The tier hierarchy collectors should understand:
- Tier 1 — Blue-chip artist estates and KAWS. Strongest long-term appreciation. 1000% pieces $15K–$200K+.
- Tier 2 — Luxury fashion (Dior, Chanel, Supreme box logo). High velocity, hype-cycle sensitive. 1000% pieces $4K–$40K.
- Tier 3 — Heritage Japanese streetwear (Mastermind, NEIGHBORHOOD, Bape). Stable collector demand. 1000% pieces $2K–$8K.
- Tier 4 — Major franchise licensing (Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Evangelion). High unit volume, moderate appreciation. 1000% pieces $1K–$4K.
- Tier 5 — Promotional and regional exclusives. Speculative; some sleepers, mostly flat.
Building a Position
For collectors starting a serious BE@RBRICK portfolio, we recommend anchoring with one Tier 1 1000% piece, two to three Tier 2 1000% pieces, and a curated 400% rotation across tiers 3 and 4. Browse our authenticated collection to see currently available pieces, each backed by our comparable sales database.
