Warm Regards Bar stands among KAWS’ most mischievous and conceptually sharp object-based editions. Conceived in 2008, the work takes the form of a melting ice cream bar—or more provocatively, an excrement-shaped confection—mounted on a stick, merging childish delight with a distinctly irreverent visual language. The surface is smooth, rounded, almost seductively polished, yet immediately disrupted by the unmistakable “X” eyes embedded within the form, transforming a banal treat into a subversive Companion-like presence.
The object exists in multiple colorways—typically pink, brown, and cream—each directly referencing familiar flavors (strawberry, chocolate, vanilla), reinforcing the illusion of an edible product while simultaneously destabilizing it. The tension between desire and repulsion is immediate, deliberate, and unmistakably KAWS.
Introduction
Produced in painted cast vinyl and released in collaboration with Medicom Toy and KAWS’ own OriginalFake, the edition reflects the artist’s long-standing mastery of industrial fabrication. The finish is pristine, almost commercial in its perfection—an essential quality, as the work deliberately mimics the language of consumer goods.
In parallel, a much rarer bronze edition (notably smaller in number) translates the same playful form into a materially elevated object. This shift—from disposable snack to enduring sculptural medium—is both ironic and strategic, reinforcing KAWS’ ability to oscillate between mass culture and fine art with ease.
At first glance humorous, Warm Regards Bar quickly reveals itself as a sophisticated commentary on consumption—visual, cultural, and literal. The work plays with appetite: what we desire, what we consume, and how easily pleasure turns ambiguous. By disguising a crude, almost taboo form as a sweet, familiar object, KAWS engages in a kind of aesthetic bait-and-switch.
The title itself—Warm Regards—adds another layer of irony. Polite, almost corporate in tone, it contrasts sharply with the object’s irreverence, echoing the artist’s broader critique of surface-level niceties within consumer culture.
More broadly, the work aligns with KAWS’ ongoing interrogation of pop imagery: taking universally recognizable forms and subtly corrupting them until they become psychologically charged objects.
Released in 2008, during a pivotal period in KAWS’ transition from street-influenced interventions to globally recognized collectible design, Warm Regards Bar exemplifies the growing sophistication of his editions. Distributed through OriginalFake and associated channels, the work quickly became emblematic of his ability to transform everyday objects into highly desirable collectibles.
This period also coincides with the increasing institutional and market recognition of KAWS, where editions such as this served as accessible entry points into his universe while maintaining conceptual rigor.
Market & Legacy
Today, Warm Regards Bar occupies a unique position within KAWS’ body of work: less iconic than the Companion figures, perhaps, but arguably more conceptually incisive. Its strong visual identity and limited availability continue to sustain steady demand across both design and contemporary art collectors.
The vinyl editions remain relatively accessible compared to major sculptural works, while the bronze variant—by virtue of its rarity and material elevation—commands significantly higher attention.
More importantly, the piece encapsulates a central truth about KAWS: beneath the polished surfaces and playful aesthetics lies a deeply intelligent practice, one that understands precisely how to seduce, disarm, and ultimately challenge its audience.
Warm Regard Bars, 2008
Warm Regards Bar (Brown/Pink/White)
The complete set of three works
Medium: Painted cast vinyl
Year: 2008
Dimensions: 17x9x3 cm (6-1/2 x 3-1/2 x 1 inches)
Edition: Unknown size, unnumbered
co-produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo and OriginalFake, Tokyo
Impressed signature, date and manufacturer’s mark to reverse of each work ‘KAWS..08 / Medicom Toy’. This complete set of three works is from the edition of unknown size . Sold with original packaging.
KAWS (Brian Donnelly) b.1974
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Warm Regards Bar (set of three)
2008
painted cast vinyl
6½ h × 3½ w × 1 d in (17 × 9 × 3 cm)
Impressed signature, date and manufacturer’s mark to reverse of each work ‘KAWS..08 / Medicom Toy’. This complete set of three works is from the edition of unknown size co-produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo and OriginalFake, Tokyo. Sold with original packaging.
WARM REGARDS (Bronze)
WARM REGARDS
Medium: Bronze
Year: 2008
Dimensions: 17 x 9.3 x 2.7 cm (6-3/4 x 3-5/8 x 1-1/8 inches)
Edition: 10
Artist’s Proofs: 2 AP
Incised with the artist’s signature, number and date ‘KAWS..08 5/10’ on the reverse