Gauntlet Gallery — Complete KAWS Index
Kaws Hasheem
Work Summary & Collector Notes
A figure from KAWS's roster of original characters beyond the Companion, applying his consistent visual language, crossed-out 'X' eyes, bulbous cartoon forms, and a playful-yet-melancholic sensibility, to a distinct named character. As an accessibly priced object, it belongs to the designer-toy strand of KAWS's output that grew out of his Japanese vinyl partnerships and his Original Fake brand. Like his other characters, it treats a small collectible as a vehicle for KAWS's signature iconography, extending his universe beyond its central figure into a broader cast.
Collector notes: Edition label was not stated, and total quantity was not documented in the saved record. Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
KAWS built an entire cast of characters, the Companion, Chum, Accomplice, BFF, and others, that together form a coherent visual universe, and the lesser-known figures are an important part of that ecosystem. Works like Hasheem matter because they show the breadth of KAWS's character design and the depth of his toy practice, the engine that democratized collecting his art. The designer-toy format, perfected through his work with Japanese manufacturers and his own Original Fake label, was central to how KAWS reached a mass audience and turned collectible objects into a legitimate art-market category. For collectors, these secondary characters offer affordable, completist appeal and a way into the KAWS world without the cost of marquee pieces. They underscore that KAWS's significance lies not in a single image but in a whole self-contained iconography, consistently rendered with his X-eyed, cartoon-derived signature across many forms.
Collector Perspective
This appeals to completist KAWS collectors seeking the full roster of characters, and to budget-conscious buyers who want an authentic KAWS object at an accessible price. Its display appeal lies in the recognizable KAWS styling, instantly legible even to those unfamiliar with the specific character. Within a collection it plays a supporting role, broadening the cast around flagship Companion pieces and demonstrating the depth of KAWS's invented universe. As with all KAWS toys, original packaging and pristine condition are central to value, and provenance helps confirm authenticity.
Historical Context
Hasheem belongs to KAWS's toy-and-vinyl strand, rooted in the late-1990s and 2000s designer-toy boom he helped lead through Japanese collaborations and Original Fake. That period established the collectible figure as a serious art form and built the audience that would later embrace his fine-art and monumental work. Secondary characters like this map the expansion of KAWS's universe during the era when the toy was his primary populist medium.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print or object
- Release date
- 2007
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Series
- Plush and Object
- Medium and materials
- Medium and materials were not documented in the saved record.
- Edition details
- Edition label was not stated, and total quantity was not documented in the saved record.
- Signature and marks
- Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats KAWS's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: No per-work artist statement is recorded for this edition. Any thematic reading should be treated as interpretation of the imagery, not a documented statement of the artist's intent. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2007. It is grouped under Plush and Object in the saved record.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to the release source named in the saved record. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- KAWSONE — official site — KAWS studio · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official artist site; career context, not an individual-edition record.
- KAWS — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- KAWS (Q3194367) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
Market Context
- Estimated value. The median of recorded public sale prices for this piece, matched by title and colorway. We use the median (not the average) because it resists outliers.
- Min / max sale. The lowest and highest individual recorded sale prices; the range shows dispersion, not a guaranteed band.
- Recorded comps. The number of independent comparable sales; reliability rises with sample size (1–2 sales are indicative only).
- Liquidity & sales volume. Our liquidity rating reflects sales velocity — the number of recorded comparable sales and how recent the latest sale is. More frequent and more recent sales rate as more liquid (Highly Liquid → Liquid → Moderate → Thin → Very Thin); a piece with no recorded public sales is Extremely Rare.
- Product-level estimate. This colorway has few or no recorded sales of its own, so the figure is pooled from sales across all colorways of the same product (median, with the 25th–75th percentile as the range). Indicative; specific colorways can trade above or below.
- Estimate confidence. A traffic-light read on how well the data supports the estimate: green high, yellow medium, red low / indicative.
- Data source & currency. Compiled from recorded public marketplace and auction sales of US$200 or more, in US dollars, as of the latest recorded sale shown. Coverage is not exhaustive.
- Not financial or investment advice. For collector reference only — not an appraisal, offer, or guarantee of resale value. Art is volatile and illiquid; do your own research. Use is subject to our Terms & Conditions.
FAQ
Who is Hasheem in the KAWS universe?
Hasheem is one of KAWS's named characters beyond the central Companion, rendered in his signature X-eyed, cartoon-derived style. Treat specifics of its release as approximate.
Is this a good entry-level KAWS piece?
Yes, lesser-known character figures are typically among the more accessible authentic KAWS objects, appealing to new and completist collectors alike.
What makes it recognizably KAWS?
The crossed-out 'X' eyes, bulbous cartoon forms, and overall styling are consistent across KAWS's entire cast of characters.
Does condition matter for KAWS toys?
Very much; original packaging and an unblemished surface are central to value in this collectible category.
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