Gauntlet Gallery — Complete KAWS Index
4 Foot Dissected Companion (Black)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
4 Foot Dissected Companion (Black) is a large-scale vinyl rendition of KAWS's signature Companion in which the figure's outer skin is partially removed to reveal a cartoon-style interior anatomy — bones, organs, and segmented internals — all rendered in a striking black colorway. At roughly four feet tall, it is an imposing, statement-scale object that converts the intimate Companion into a commanding presence. The Dissected concept exposes what lies beneath the familiar exterior, turning KAWS's melancholic everyman into a meditation on mortality and interiority. The combination of monumental size, the anatomical 'flayed' motif, and the graphic black finish makes it one of the more dramatic Companion variants.
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
The Dissected Companion is among KAWS's most conceptually resonant inventions, taking his beloved Companion and cutting it open to expose a cartoonish skeleton and viscera. Where the standard Companion hints at mortality through its X eyes and slumped postures, the Dissected version makes that subtext literal, peeling back the surface to reveal what the cheerful cartoon exterior conceals. Scaled to four feet, the work amplifies this idea into a centerpiece object that bridges KAWS's collectible-toy practice and his ambitions toward monumental sculpture. The black colorway adds gravity and graphic severity. For collectors, large Dissected Companions are highly desirable: they unite the most recognizable KAWS character, his signature anatomical conceit, and an impressive scale that anchors a room. The piece exemplifies KAWS's central themes — mortality, melancholy, and the gap between cartoon surface and human interior — while showcasing the production sophistication that let him render fine-art ideas as flawless, large-format vinyl editions.
Collector Perspective
This is a centerpiece acquisition for serious KAWS collectors who want a large, conceptually rich Companion. The four-foot scale and the dramatic dissected interior make it a focal display object that commands a room rather than a shelf, and the black colorway suits modern, minimal interiors. It appeals to buyers who prize the Dissected motif specifically and to those building a Companion-focused collection who want a flagship piece. Given its size, presence, and the desirability of large Companions, it tends to sit at a higher tier of investment and significance within a KAWS holding.
Historical Context
The Dissected Companion extends the Companion KAWS introduced around 1999, layering on the anatomical conceit that became a recurring thread across prints, smaller figures, and large vinyls. The four-foot scale points toward KAWS's growing ambition during the period when he moved from pocket-size art toys to large editions and, ultimately, monumental public sculptures. This work sits at the hinge between his toy-and-vinyl practice and his fine-art and monumental phases, demonstrating how the Companion's themes of mortality could be magnified physically and conceptually as his production capabilities expanded.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print or object
- Release date
- 2009
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Series
- Companion Series
- 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: Read as documented context rather than stated intent: The Dissected Companion extends the Companion KAWS introduced around 1999, layering on the anatomical conceit that became a recurring thread across prints, smaller figures, and large vinyls. This is an interpretive reading of the release context, not a statement of the artist's intent for this specific work. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2009. It is grouped under Companion Series 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.
- Indicative estimate. Where recorded sales are very limited (1–2), the figure is treated as indicative only — not a firm market value; a single sale can move it materially.
- 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
What does 'Dissected' mean in this work?
Dissected refers to KAWS removing part of the Companion's outer skin to reveal a cartoon-style interior of bones and organs, making the figure's underlying themes of mortality literal.
How large is it?
The title indicates a roughly four-foot-tall figure, making it a statement-scale centerpiece rather than a small shelf toy; exact dimensions should be confirmed against authoritative records.
Why is this a desirable piece?
It combines KAWS's most iconic character, his signature anatomical Dissected motif, an impressive scale, and a bold black colorway, making it a flagship-level object for Companion collectors.
Related KAWS Works
