Released in 2004, BLITZ marks a decisive shift in KAWS’ sculptural language. Moving away from the anthropomorphic familiarity of the Companion, the figure adopts a compact, rocket-like silhouette—rounded, aerodynamic, and deliberately ambiguous. It stands somewhere between a character and an object, evoking mid-century toy design while resisting any clear narrative identity.
Introduction
The form is deceptively simple: a capsule-shaped body, lateral fins, and grounded feet that anchor it in KAWS’ sculptural universe. The signature “X” eyes appear not as facial features in the traditional sense, but as graphic interruptions on an otherwise smooth surface. Below, the exaggerated gritted teeth—one of the artist’s most recognizable motifs—wrap around the body like a band, transforming expression into structure. Even the soles are marked, reinforcing the idea that every surface participates in the composition.
Produced in painted cast vinyl and released through Medicom Toy, BLITZ was issued in three primary colorways—blue, green, and clear—each in an edition of 500. The original retail price of $80 situates the work within the accessible framework that defined early KAWS editions, yet the object itself already carries the precision and finish of a design piece rather than a simple toy.
A keychain version followed in 2011, extending the motif into a more portable format, though the original 2004 editions remain the most conceptually and historically significant.
BLITZ occupies a crucial position in KAWS’ early trajectory. While his practice initially gained visibility through interventions on existing imagery—subverting advertising and reworking cartoon icons—this figure signals a move toward autonomous form. It is not derived from a pre-existing character but instead constructed from a synthesis of references: industrial design, wartime iconography, and toy culture.
The title itself, “Blitz,” subtly evokes speed, impact, and perhaps even destruction—an undercurrent that contrasts with the playful surface. There is a tension here between innocence and aggression, a recurring theme in KAWS’ work. The object feels both like a relic of childhood imagination and a stylized artifact of modern conflict.
In stripping away overt character identity, BLITZ becomes an exploration of visual language itself. The familiar KAWS elements—X eyes, teeth—are no longer tied to a body with emotional cues but instead embedded into a near-abstract form. This shift invites a different kind of engagement: less narrative, more formal.
The rocket-like silhouette suggests movement and futurity, yet the figure remains static, almost frozen in anticipation. It embodies a paradox central to KAWS’ practice: objects that appear dynamic but are fundamentally still, playful yet carrying a quiet psychological weight.
Today, BLITZ is recognized as a foundational work in KAWS’ evolution. It prefigures his later interest in large-scale sculpture and his ability to distill identity into pure form. For collectors, it represents an early moment where the artist steps beyond appropriation into invention.
Its relative scarcity—limited to 500 examples per color—combined with its historical importance has made it increasingly sought after. While originally positioned as an affordable collectible, it now reads as a key transitional object, bridging KAWS’ street-informed beginnings and his later status within the contemporary art market.
In hindsight, BLITZ is less a deviation than a declaration: a clear indication that KAWS was not merely remixing culture, but actively building a new visual vocabulary.
BLITZ, 2004
BLITZ (Blue, Green, Grey)
The complete set of three works
Medium: Painted cast vinyl
Year: 2004
Dimensions: 13x11x8 cm (5-1/4 x 4-1/4 x 3-1/4 inches)
Edition: 500, unnumbered
Release Price: USD 80
Produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo
Impressed signature, date and manufacturer’s mark to underside
‘KAWS..04 Medicom Toy 2004 China’
Auction Results
Heritage Auctions: 29 November 2022
USD 3,000
KAWS (b. 1974)
Blitz (set of 3), 2004
Painted cast vinyl
Each stamped to the underside of the feet
Produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo
BLITZ (Blue), 2004
BLITZ (Blue)
Medium: Painted cast vinyl
Year: 2004
Dimensions: 13x11x8 cm (5-1/4 x 4-1/4 x 3-1/4 inches)
Edition: 500, unnumbered
Release Price: USD 80
Produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo
Impressed signature, date and manufacturer’s mark to underside
‘KAWS..04 Medicom Toy 2004 China’
Auction Results
LA Modern: 18 March 2025
Estimated: USD 200 – 300
USD 826
KAWS (Brian Donnelly, b.1974)
Blitz (Blue), 2004
Painted cast vinyl
Impressed signature, date and manufacturer’s mark to underside
‘KAWS..04 Medicom Toy 2004 China’
This work is from the edition of unknown size
Produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo
Sold with original packaging
BLITZ (Green), 2004
BLITZ (Green)
Medium: Painted cast vinyl
Year: 2004
Dimensions: 13x11x8 cm (5-1/4 x 4-1/4 x 3-1/4 inches)
Edition: 500, unnumbered
Release Price: USD 80
Produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo
Impressed signature, date and manufacturer’s mark to underside
‘KAWS..04 Medicom Toy 2004 China’
Auction Results
Heritage Auctions: 22 May 2025
USD 875
KAWS (b. 1974)
Blitz (Green), 2004
Painted cast vinyl
Stamped on underside of feet
Produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo
BLITZ (Grey), 2004
BLITZ (Grey)
Medium: Painted cast vinyl
Year: 2004
Dimensions: 13x11x8 cm (5-1/4 x 4-1/4 x 3-1/4 inches)
Edition: 500, unnumbered
Release Price: USD 80
Produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo
Impressed signature, date and manufacturer’s mark to underside
‘KAWS..04 Medicom Toy 2004 China’
Auction Results
Heritage Auctions: 22 May 2025
USD 1,187.50
KAWS (b. 1974)
Blitz (Grey), 2004
Painted cast vinyl
Stamped on underside of feet
Produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo