Summary
Small Lie (Grey) is a 2017 open edition vinyl released through KAWS's KAWSONE webshop in December 2017 at $220 retail. Standing 11 inches tall, it depicts a Companion with an elongated, Pinocchio-like nose, head bowed and shoulders slumped in a posture of shame — and, unusually for the Companion series, wearing sculpted overalls. The grey colorway renders the figure in layered greys with black accents at the X eyes and hands. The composition derives from KAWS's monumental African hardwood sculpture of the same name, shown at roughly 10 meters tall at Yorkshire Sculpture Park in 2016. It released in three colorways — black, grey, and brown — as an unnumbered open edition.
Why It Matters
Small Lie is one of the most emotionally legible objects KAWS has produced: the Pinocchio nose and hung head turn the Companion into a figure caught in its own dishonesty, borrowing a childhood story to stage adult guilt. It is also a design outlier — the overalls and the absence of any flayed variant set it apart from the standard Companion open editions. The Yorkshire Sculpture Park lineage gives the vinyl the same monument-to-shelf pedigree as Along the Way.
Collector Perspective
Our dataset shows 60 recorded resales for the grey Small Lie with a median around $300 — a modest premium over its $220 retail, and the most affordable entry point among the named sculptures covered here. The range runs from $129.99 to $950: loose examples anchor the bottom, while sealed pieces and demand spikes account for the top. Trading is steady rather than hot, with the latest recorded sale in January 2026. Demand comes from collectors drawn to the figure's narrative sculpt and from those completing the 2017–2020 named-sculpture run in grey.
FAQ
What does Small Lie depict?
A Companion figure with a long Pinocchio-style nose, head bowed and shoulders slumped, wearing overalls. The pose and nose stage the character as caught in a lie — one of KAWS's most direct narrative sculpts.
What is the edition size of Small Lie (Grey)?
It is an unnumbered open edition released in December 2017. KAWS never disclosed the production quantity, and the figures carry no edition numbers.
Is Small Lie signed by KAWS?
No. Open edition vinyls are not individually signed. Authentic examples are identified by molded copyright and production markings on the underside of the feet.
How common are fakes of this figure?
Common — Small Lie's popularity and lower price point make it a frequent counterfeit target. Verify the foot stamps, the paint edges on the overalls and eyes, and the box printing, or buy from a trusted dealer who guarantees authenticity.
What is the connection to Yorkshire Sculpture Park?
KAWS exhibited a monumental African hardwood version of Small Lie, roughly 10 meters tall, at Yorkshire Sculpture Park in the UK in 2016. The 2017 vinyl translates that sculpture to an 11-inch collectible scale.