The original 2017 KAWS BFF Pink is the inaugural release of KAWS' Best Friend Forever vinyl figure, produced by Medicom Toy. Standing 11 inches tall in soft pink flocked vinyl, it introduced a new humanoid character with rounded form, ear-like appendages, X-eyes, and a small nose. Original retail was $175; documented secondary market trades since release sit in the $400-$800 range.
What Is the KAWS BFF Pink (2017)?
Released in late 2017 through Medicom Toy in collaboration with KAWS (Brian Donnelly, born 1974, Jersey City, NJ), the BFF Pink figure marked the artist's first major expansion of his vinyl-figure universe beyond the long-running Companion character. Where Companion is built on a Mickey-derived silhouette, BFF is a distinct creature: a softer, more abstract humanoid with elongated ear-like appendages, the signature crossed-out X eyes, and a small, almost button-like nose.
The figure was produced in flocked pink vinyl - a fuzzy, velvet-like surface coating that gives the piece a tactile, plush quality unusual for KAWS vinyl. At 11 inches tall, it was scaled as a desk- or shelf-statement object, not a pocket figure.
Why BFF Mattered for KAWS Collectors
For collectors who had been buying Companions since the OriginalFake era, the 2017 BFF release signaled a deliberate widening of the KAWS vinyl IP. BFF was the artist publicly committing to a multi-character universe rather than a single-icon practice. It also pre-staged the massive inflatable BFF installations that would follow in 2019.
The 2017 BFF Pink at a Glance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Artist | KAWS (Brian Donnelly, b. 1974, Jersey City, NJ) |
| Producer | Medicom Toy |
| Release Year | 2017 |
| Character | BFF (Best Friend Forever) - inaugural figure release |
| Material | Flocked pink vinyl |
| Height | 11 inches (approx. 28 cm) |
| Original Retail | $175 USD |
| Documented Secondary Market | Approx. $400-$800 range |
| Packaging | Branded Medicom Toy box with KAWS markings |
The BFF Character: Design Language
The BFF figure represents a clear visual departure from the Companion. Where Companion borrows the Disney-cartoon body language KAWS first remixed in the late 1990s, BFF reads as something more invented from scratch.
- Rounded humanoid form: No exaggerated cartoon torso or oversized gloves - the silhouette is simplified and softened.
- Ear-like appendages: Two elongated forms extend from the head, often read as ears or antennae depending on the viewer.
- X-eyes: The signature KAWS motif carries over, anchoring BFF inside the artist's broader visual grammar.
- Small nose: A subtle button-style nose, far less pronounced than Companion's.
- Flocked finish: The fuzzy surface treatment was a tactile choice that made BFF feel closer to a plush than a hard-edge designer toy.
Reading BFF as an Artwork
BFF arrived at a moment when KAWS was already commanding institutional attention - the Brooklyn Museum and National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) exhibitions were either underway or being planned, and the artist's auction trajectory was rising toward what would become the $14.7 million result for The KAWS Album at Sotheby's Hong Kong in April 2019. In that context, BFF Pink reads as a deliberate softening of the KAWS brand: a friendlier, plush-textured object pitched as a true collectible companion piece.
BFF Variants That Followed
After the 2017 Pink release, Medicom Toy and KAWS produced multiple BFF variants. These later releases reinforced Pink's status as the originating piece in the lineage:
- BFF 1000% (BE@RBRICK-scale flocked figure): An oversized version in the BE@RBRICK scaling system, released in multiple colorways.
- BFF Black: A flocked black colorway variant of the 11-inch figure.
- BFF Brown: Another flocked colorway in the same form factor.
- Additional seasonal and holiday colorways through subsequent AllRightsReserved and Medicom-linked drops.
For collectors building a complete BFF set, the 2017 Pink is the cornerstone - the same way the first OriginalFake Companion releases anchor any serious Companion collection.
The 2019 Inflatable BFF Installations
The BFF character moved from vinyl into monumental sculpture during 2019, when KAWS and AllRightsReserved produced large-scale inflatable BFF installations across multiple cities. These public-art moments - tied to Seoul, New York, and Miami event programming - amplified BFF's cultural footprint and retroactively elevated demand for the original 2017 vinyl release.
Each inflatable activation drew significant press and Instagram traffic, and within KAWS' broader practice these installations functioned the same way the giant Companion sculptures (Hong Kong harbor, Mt. Fuji, etc.) functioned for Companion: turning a collectible character into a public-art moment that documented and validated the underlying figure market.
Market Context: BFF Pink in the KAWS Resale Landscape
KAWS' annual auction and secondary market volume exceeds $200 million across vinyl figures, signed prints, plush toys, inflatables, and high-end fashion collaborations. The vinyl figure segment - where BFF Pink lives - is one of the most heavily traded categories, and also one of the most heavily counterfeited.
Drawing from the Gauntlet Gallery 160,000+ comparable sales database, documented secondary market activity for the 2017 BFF Pink has generally tracked in the $400-$800 band, with condition, completeness of original packaging, and flocking integrity driving the spread. Box-fresh, never-displayed examples with crisp flocking trade at the upper end of that range; examples with rubbed or matted flocking, sun-faded pink tone, or missing original Medicom Toy box trade below it.
What Drives Price Within the Range
- Flocking condition: The fuzzy surface is fragile. Rubbing, compression marks from packaging pressure, or pet/dust contamination all matter.
- Color tone: The original pink is vulnerable to UV-driven fading. Examples kept in low-light storage hold tone better.
- Box and inserts: Original Medicom Toy outer box, inner tray, and any accompanying paperwork should be present and undamaged.
- Provenance: A clean ownership trail - original purchase receipt, prior auction record, or authenticated marketplace history - lifts value.
Authentication: What to Check on a 2017 BFF Pink
KAWS vinyl is among the most counterfeited collectible categories on the open market, with fakes appearing within days of any new drop. The 2017 BFF Pink is no exception. Before transacting, verify the following:
- Medicom Toy branding on box and base markings, with correct typography and placement.
- Flocking texture - authentic flocking has a uniform, fine-fiber density; fakes often present uneven patches, longer fibers, or a slightly waxy surface.
- Pink color tone - the original 2017 pink has a specific warm rose tone; reproductions often skew either too cool/magenta or too pale/salmon.
- Stamped markings on the base for KAWS / Medicom Toy credit lines, copyright year, and any applicable edition or production marks.
- Box construction and printing quality - color registration, cardboard weight, and Japanese-market printing details.
For a deeper framework on authenticating KAWS vinyl and prints generally, see our KAWS Collector Guide.
Where the 2017 BFF Pink Sits in a Collection
For collectors building a focused KAWS holding, the 2017 BFF Pink belongs alongside early Companion releases as a foundational object - the introduction of the artist's second major recurring character. For collectors building broader contemporary or street art portfolios, it functions as a relatively accessible entry point to the KAWS vinyl market: a piece with documented institutional context, a clear character lineage, and an established secondary market band.
Gauntlet Gallery has been authenticating and brokering KAWS, Shepard Fairey, Banksy, and contemporary collectible work since 2012, and our 160,000+ comparable sales database powers pricing and authentication decisions across the category.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the original KAWS BFF Pink released?
The figure was released in 2017 through Medicom Toy as the inaugural BFF character figure.
How tall is the 2017 BFF Pink figure?
It stands approximately 11 inches (around 28 cm) tall in flocked pink vinyl.
What was the original retail price?
Original retail at release was $175 USD. Documented secondary market activity has since tracked in the $400-$800 range, depending on condition and packaging.
How is BFF different from KAWS Companion?
Companion is built on a Mickey-derived cartoon silhouette. BFF is a distinct character: a softer, rounded humanoid with ear-like appendages, X-eyes, and a small nose, finished in flocked vinyl rather than smooth.
What BFF variants followed the 2017 Pink release?
Medicom Toy and KAWS released a BFF 1000% BE@RBRICK-scale figure, Black and Brown flocked colorways of the 11-inch figure, and additional seasonal variants. The 2017 Pink remains the originating release in the BFF lineage.
Buy and Authenticate KAWS at Gauntlet Gallery
Gauntlet Gallery has been authenticating, pricing, and brokering KAWS and contemporary collectible work since 2012. Our 160,000+ comparable sales database underwrites every listing in our shop. Browse current inventory at gauntlet.gallery/collections/all or read our broader KAWS Collector Guide for a complete authentication and market framework.