Passing Through presents one of the most introspective iterations of the Companion figure by KAWS. The character is seated on a simple cubic base, its elbows resting on its knees, both hands covering its face. The familiar anatomical language of the Companion remains intact—the rounded head, the crossed-out eyes, the gloved hands—but here, the gesture fundamentally alters the reading of the figure.

Introduction

Unlike other Companion sculptures that engage the viewer directly or interact with another figure, Passing Through turns inward. The covered face removes any possibility of eye contact, reinforcing a sense of withdrawal, fatigue, or emotional overwhelm. The posture is compact and grounded, emphasizing weight and stillness rather than movement. The work was released in three different colorways,  grey, black, and brown, each reinforcing the subdued and contemplative nature of the piece. The matte surfaces further absorb light, avoiding reflection and spectacle, and instead directing attention to the psychological dimension of the form.

Passing Through marks a decisive shift in KAWS’s sculptural language toward a more explicit articulation of interior states. The gesture of covering the face is universally legible, it suggests grief, anxiety, exhaustion, or the need to momentarily retreat from the world. The title itself introduces a subtle ambiguity. “Passing through” may suggest a transient emotional state, implying that distress is temporary, a phase rather than a condition. At the same time, the physical immobility of the sculpture contradicts this idea, creating a tension between movement implied by language and stillness embodied in form.

Within KAWS’s broader vocabulary, this work can be understood as part of a family of emotionally charged compositions that includes Companion (Resting Place) and later works such as Gone. However, unlike Gone, where emotional weight is externalized through the relationship between two figures, Passing Through internalizes that weight entirely.

The sculpture was produced as a limited edition in painted cast vinyl, a material closely associated with KAWS’s practice and his long-standing collaboration with fabrication studios capable of achieving industrial precision. The surfaces are smooth and uniform, with minimal visible seams, reinforcing the object’s clean, almost archetypal presence. Despite its relatively modest scale compared to KAWS’s monumental works, Passing Through retains a strong sculptural authority. The compact composition, combined with the solidity of the base, creates a self-contained object that reads clearly from multiple viewpoints.

Released in 2013, Passing Through emerges at a moment when KAWS is increasingly consolidating his position between fine art, design, and global visual culture. The work was produced in collaboration with entities such as AllRightsReserved, which played a key role in the distribution of many of his editions during this period.

This moment is particularly important, as it precedes the large wave of monumental public projects and global installations that would define the latter half of the decade. Passing Through therefore sits at a pivotal point, where the language of collectible editions begins to carry the full conceptual weight of his sculptural practice.

Today, Passing Through is widely regarded as one of the defining sculptural statements in KAWS’s oeuvre. It encapsulates a key aspect of his practice: the ability to distill complex emotional states into simple, universally recognizable forms. By removing the face from view, KAWS paradoxically creates one of his most expressive works. The absence of visible emotion becomes, in itself, a powerful emotional signal. In this sense, Passing Through exemplifies the artist’s capacity to transform a cartoon-derived figure into a vehicle for nuanced psychological expression, bridging popular culture and contemporary sculpture with remarkable precision.

PASSING THROUGH, 2013

Auction Results

LA Modern: 10 October 2024
Estimated: USD 2,000 – 3,000
USD 2,520

KAWS (Brian Donnelly, b.1974)
Companion (Passing Through), set of three, 2013
Painted cast vinyl
Stamped signature, date and manufacturer’s mark to underside of each work
‘© KAWS..13 Medicom Toy 2013 China’
These works are from the editions of unknown size
Co-produced by Medicom Toy and OriginalFake, Tokyo
Sold with original packaging

SBI Art Auction: 18 September 2021
Estimated: JPY 300,000 – 500,000
JPY 1,150,000 / USD 10,460

KAWS
Companion (Passing Through) Black, Gray, Brown, 2013
Vinyl, plastic, multiple with original case, 3 works

Heritage Auctions: 30 August 2018
Estimated: USD 4,000 – 6,000
USD 10,625
AUCTION RECORD FOR A COMPLETE SET OF PASSING THROUGH

KAWS (b. 1974)
Companion-Passing Through, set of three, 2013
Painted cast vinyl
Stamped to the underside of the feet
Published by Medicom Toy, Tokyo

PASSING THROUGH (Grey)

Auction Results

Heritage Auctions: 12 December 2025
USD 688

KAWS (b. 1974)
Passing Through (Grey), 2018
Painted cast vinyl
Stamped on underside of feet
Produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo

PASSING THROUGH (Black)

Auction Results

Heritage Auctions: 12 December 2025
USD 400

KAWS (b. 1974)
Passing Through (Black), 2018
Painted cast vinyl
Stamped on underside of feet
Produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo

Julien’s Auction: 22 October 2016
Estimated: USD 1,000 – 1,500
USD 4,687.50
AUCTION RECORD FOR PASSING THROUGH (BLACK)

KAWS
PASSING THROUGH ( BLACK ), 2013
Vinyl figure with original box
Stamped under foot

PASSING THROUGH (Brown)

Auction Results

Public Reveals