Gauntlet Gallery — Complete KAWS Index
Chum vs Astro Boy (First Edition)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
This screenprint sets KAWS's CHUM character against the silhouette of Astro Boy. CHUM is KAWS's reworking of the Michelin Man (Bibendum), rendered with his trademark X eyes and rounded, stacked-tire body. Here that bulbous figure is overlaid with the unmistakable form of Osamu Tezuka's robot boy, a touchstone of Japanese manga and anime. Executed as a bold, flat graphic with crisp outlines and a limited palette, the 'First Edition' print exemplifies KAWS's strategy of fusing two mass-culture mascots into a single hybrid image, layering his own invented characters over icons of postwar pop culture.
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
CHUM is one of KAWS's most important early characters, a direct appropriation of an advertising mascot that he claimed and transformed into a recurring figure across paintings, prints, and vinyl toys. Pairing CHUM with Astro Boy doubles down on KAWS's core method: both figures are borrowed icons — one from Western advertising, one from Japanese animation — recombined through his X-eyed idiom. The mashup speaks to KAWS's deep ties to Japan, where his early collaborations with Tokyo toy and streetwear brands established his collector base. For collectors, CHUM works carry significance as a foundational chapter of his vocabulary alongside Companion, and a 'versus Astro Boy' edition links street art, designer-toy culture, and gallery printmaking in one image. It demonstrates how KAWS treats commercial mascots as a shared language to be remixed rather than merely referenced.
Collector Perspective
This print draws collectors focused on KAWS's CHUM character and his appropriation of advertising and cartoon mascots. It complements both CHUM editions and the broader Companion universe, making it attractive to buyers assembling a survey of KAWS's invented characters. The 'versus Astro Boy' concept gives it added narrative appeal and ties it to his Japanese collector roots. As a flat, high-contrast graphic it displays boldly and pairs naturally with Running Chum prints and other CHUM works. Condition, signature, and authentication should be verified, as these factors drive value in the KAWS editions market.
Historical Context
CHUM emerged in KAWS's late-1990s and early-2000s practice, the period when he was moving from subway and graffiti interventions into appropriated-mascot paintings and the designer-toy world. His relationship with Japan — through Bounty Hunter, OriginalFake, and Tokyo's toy scene — made characters like CHUM and Companion enormously popular there. Overlaying CHUM with Astro Boy continues the appropriation strategy that defined his rise, in which familiar commercial and cartoon figures are absorbed into his X-eyed symbology. The work reflects the maturation of KAWS's character roster, when his own mascots had become recognizable enough to stage dialogues with the pop icons that inspired them.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print or object
- Release date
- 2002
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Series
- Chum 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: 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 2002. It is grouped under Chum 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.
FAQ
Who or what is CHUM?
CHUM is KAWS's reworking of the Michelin Man (Bibendum), given X eyes and his signature styling — one of his foundational appropriated characters alongside Companion.
What does the Astro Boy reference add?
It overlays CHUM with Osamu Tezuka's classic robot-boy silhouette, pairing a Western advertising mascot with a Japanese animation icon in a single hybrid image.
Is this a signed limited edition?
It is presented as a limited screenprint edition. Verify the signature, edition number, and authentication paperwork directly before any purchase.
How does CHUM relate to KAWS's other characters?
CHUM is part of KAWS's roster of remixed mascots; it appears across paintings, prints, and toys and recurs in series such as the Running Chum prints.
Related KAWS Works
