The 2010 collaboration between KAWS and Robert Lazzarini marks one of the most conceptually radical departures within the Companion lineage. At first glance, the figure remains identifiable, gloved hands, crossed-out eyes, rounded shoes, but its entire structure appears destabilized, as if pulled, twisted, or digitally corrupted.
Introduction
Consisting of three painted cast vinyl sculptures, each piece in the set encapsulates Lazzarini’s signature manipulation and distortion techniques alongside KAWS’ iconic Companion figure. , these sculptures stand as a testament to the artists’ creative visions and striking aesthetics. Each figure in the set boasts a distinct form of deformation, echoing Lazzarini’s penchant for altering perspectives and imbuing objects with historical significance. Utilizing special molds to achieve the distorted appearance, reminiscent of his acclaimed Weapons Series, Lazzarini infuses the Companions with a sense of fluidity and transformation. Released in 2010 with an edition of 1000 for each color variant, the KAWS x Robert Lazzarini ‘Distorted Companion’ set represents a captivating exploration of form and narrative within the world of contemporary collectibles.
Unlike traditional variations of Companion, which operate through color or scale, this edition intervenes at the level of form itself. Lazzarini, known for his mathematically manipulated distortions of objects, introduces a controlled deformation that disrupts the figure’s symmetry and balance. Limbs bend at improbable angles, the torso twists off-axis, and the head seems slightly displaced from its natural alignment.
This is not expressive distortion in the traditional sculptural sense—it is calculated, almost algorithmic. The figure appears as though it has been subjected to an invisible force, stretched through space rather than physically reshaped. The result is deeply unsettling: familiar, yet fundamentally unstable.
The editions were released in three primary colorways—brown, grey, and black—each reinforcing a different reading of the distortion. The brown version retains a connection to the early cartoon references embedded in Companion, making the deformation feel almost like a corrupted memory of animation history. The grey version emphasizes the sculptural logic of the piece, allowing the viewer to focus on the formal manipulation without the distraction of strong color. The black version, with its darker tonality and often more striking eye contrast, amplifies the work’s disquieting presence, pushing it closer to abstraction.
This collaboration is particularly significant because it is one of the rare moments where KAWS allows another artist’s methodology to fundamentally alter his core visual language. Robert Lazzarini’ practice, rooted in perception, distortion, and the breakdown of spatial logic—intersects seamlessly with KAWS’ interest in mass culture and recognizable forms. The edition was produced in collaboration with Medicom Toy, maintaining the collectible format while introducing a level of conceptual complexity rarely seen in editioned works of this kind.
If Companion traditionally functions as a stable, repeatable icon, the Lazzarini version undermines that stability. It suggests a loss of coherence, of identity, of structure, of certainty. The figure is no longer grounded; it appears to exist in a state of permanent imbalance. There is a subtle violence in this transformation. The distortion does not decorate the figure, it disrupts it. It forces the viewer to reconsider what is essential to the character and what can be altered without breaking recognition.
Within KAWS’ broader body of work, the Lazzarini collaboration stands apart as one of the most intellectually rigorous and visually challenging editions. It moves beyond the language of variation into that of transformation. In a practice often associated with repetition and accessibility, this work introduces friction. It resists immediate consumption. It asks the viewer to adjust, to reorient, to question what they are seeing. And in doing so, it reveals something fundamental: that even the most iconic forms are not fixed—they can be bent, stretched, and redefined without losing their identity entirely.
Distorted Companions (Lazzarini), 2010
Distorted Companion (Lazzarini) (Brown/Grey/Black)
KAWS x Robert Lazzarini
The complete set of three works
Medium: Painted cast vinyl
Year: 2010
Dimensions:
Brown: 18x12x7 cm (7 x 4-3/4 × 2-3/4 inches)
Black: 19x12x8 cm (7-1/2 x 4-3/4 × 3 inches)
Grey: 21x10x6 cm (8-1/4 x 4× 2-1/2 inches)
Edition: 1000, unnumbered
Fabricated by Medicom Toy and OriginalFake, Japan
Stamped with ‘KAWS / LAZZARINI 2010 MEDICOM TOY CHINA’ on the underside
Auction Results
Heritage Auctions: 5 March 2025
USD 2,250
KAWS X Robert Lazzarini
Distorted Companion (three works), 2010
Painted cast vinyl
Each stamped on underside of feet
Produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo
SBI Art Auction: 18 September 2021
Estimated: JPY 200,000 – 300,000
JPY 724,500 / USD 6,590
KAWS
Companion Robert Lazzarini Version (Brown, Gray, Black), 2010
Vinyl, multiple with original case, 3 works
Phillips London: 13 December 2019
Estimated: GBP 2,000 – 3,000
GBP 5,500 / USD 7,345
AUCTION RECORD FOR A COMPLETE SET OF DISTORTED COMPANIONS
KAWS
(i) COMPANION (ROBERT LAZZARINI VERSION) (BROWN); (ii) COMPANION (ROBERT LAZZARINI VERSION) (BLACK); (iii) COMPANION (ROBERT LAZZARINI VERSION) (GREY), 2011
Painted vinyl, with original Medicom packaging
Stamped each ‘KAWS / LAZZARINI 2010 MEDICOM TOY CHINA’ on underside
This work is from an edition of 1000
Fabricated by Medicom Toy and OriginalFake, Japan
Distorted Companion (Lazzarini) (Brown)
Distorted Companion (Lazzarini) (Brown)
KAWS x Robert Lazzarini
Medium: Painted cast vinyl
Year: 2010
Dimensions: 18x12x7 cm (7 x 4-3/4 × 2-3/4 inches)
Edition: 1000, unnumbered
Fabricated by Medicom Toy and OriginalFake, Japan
Stamped with ‘KAWS / LAZZARINI 2010 MEDICOM TOY CHINA’ on the underside
Auction Results
LA Modern: 17 March 2026
Estimated: USD 700 – 900
USD 768
KAWS X Robert Lazzarini
Companion (Brown), 2010
Painted cast vinyl
Molded signature, date and manufacturer’s mark to underside
‘KAWS / Lazzarini 2010 Medicom Toy China’
This work is from the edition of 1000
Produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo
Sold with original packaging
Tate Ward Auctions: 19 March 2025
Estimated: GBP 600 – 800
GBP 938 / USD 1,215
KAWS (American 1974-)
‘Robert Lazzarini Companion (Brown)’, 2010
Painted case vinyl
Stamped to the underside of the feet
From an edition of 1000
Published by Medicom Toy and Original Fake
Distorted Companion (Lazzarini) (Grey)
Distorted Companion (Lazzarini) (Grey)
KAWS x Robert Lazzarini
Medium: Painted cast vinyl
Year: 2010
Dimensions: 21x10x6 cm (8-1/4 x 4× 2-1/2 inches)
Edition: 1000, unnumbered
Fabricated by Medicom Toy and OriginalFake, Japan
Stamped with ‘KAWS / LAZZARINI 2010 MEDICOM TOY CHINA’ on the underside
Auction Results
LA Modern: 17 March 2026
Estimated: USD 700 – 900
USD 1,088
KAWS X Robert Lazzarini
Companion (Grey), 2010
Painted cast vinyl
Molded signature, date and manufacturer’s mark to underside
‘KAWS / Lazzarini 2010 Medicom Toy China’
This work is from the edition of 1000
Produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo
Sold with original packaging.
Distorted Companion (Lazzarini) (Black)
Distorted Companion (Lazzarini) (Black)
KAWS x Robert Lazzarini
Medium: Painted cast vinyl
Year: 2010
Dimensions: 19x12x8 cm (7-1/2 x 4-3/4 × 3 inches)
Edition: 1000, unnumbered
Fabricated by Medicom Toy and OriginalFake, Japan
Stamped with ‘KAWS / LAZZARINI 2010 MEDICOM TOY CHINA’ on the underside
Auction Results
LA Modern: 17 March 2026
Estimated: USD 700 – 900
USD 768
KAWS X Robert Lazzarini
Companion (Black), 2010
Painted cast vinyl
Molded signature, date and manufacturer’s mark to underside
‘KAWS / Lazzarini 2010 Medicom Toy China’
This work is from the edition of 1000 produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo
Sold with original packaging
Tate Ward Auctions: 30 October 2024
Estimated: GBP 1,000 – 1,500
GBP 1,000 / USD 1,300
KAWS (American 1974-) & Robert Lazzarini (American 1965-) (Collaboration)
‘Distorted Companion (Black)‘, 2010
Painted cast vinyl
From a reported edition of 1000
Stamped to the underside of feet
Produced by Medicom Toy