Summary
Chum (2022) in orange is one of five colorways KAWS released through KAWSONE on August 9, 2022 — alongside black, white, pink, and yellow — to mark twenty years since the original 2002 Chum figure. Chum is the artist's inflated character, its puffy, segmented body borrowed from the Michelin Man and finished with KAWS's skull-and-crossbones head and X eyes. The orange version coats the entire figure in a saturated orange with tonal detailing, the loudest palette in the set. Each figure measures 11.6 by 7.7 by 3.5 inches, retailed for $280, and shipped in a KAWS-branded protective box. Like all KAWSONE open editions, it is unnumbered.
Why It Matters
The 2022 Chum drop returned one of KAWS's foundational characters to production for the first time in two decades, following Chum's prominence in the KAWS: WHAT PARTY survey at the Brooklyn Museum in 2021. Within the five-figure set, orange is the statement colorway — the one collectors choose when the shelf already holds greys and blacks. Bright, non-neutral KAWS colorways historically trade thinner but hold attention better, and orange fills that role in the Chum set.
Collector Perspective
Our WorthPoint analysis records 22 sales for the orange Chum — roughly half the volume of the white version — with a median of $317 against $280 retail and a latest sale in October 2025. The range runs $162.56 to $500, and the thinner supply shows in the numbers: orange carries the highest median in our data for the 2022 Chum colorways we track. Boxed, unfaded examples set the top of the range; orange vinyl shows sun-fade readily, so display history matters when evaluating a piece.
FAQ
What does the orange Chum figure depict?
It depicts Chum, KAWS's inflated character modeled on the Michelin Man's segmented body and finished with the artist's skull-and-crossbones head and X eyes, cast entirely in saturated orange. The character has appeared in KAWS's paintings since the late 1990s.
What is the edition size of the orange Chum (2022)?
It is an unnumbered open edition — no production count was published and figures carry no edition numbers. All five 2022 colorways released simultaneously on KAWSONE on August 9, 2022 at $280 each, with supply set by the ordering window.
Is the orange Chum signed?
No. KAWSONE open editions are not individually signed. Authenticity depends on the molded copyright markings and the branded protective box, not a signature.
What should I check before buying an orange Chum?
Beyond the usual counterfeit checks — stamp sharpness, seam quality, box printing — pay attention to color. Orange vinyl fades with sun exposure, and an example displayed in direct light can shift noticeably from the factory tone. Buy from a trusted dealer and ask for photos in neutral lighting.
Is the orange Chum rarer than the other 2022 colorways?
Production counts were never published, but secondary-market volume suggests orange trades in smaller numbers — our data shows 22 recorded sales versus 41 for white. That thinner float is consistent with its slightly higher median price on the secondary market.