The Companion / Flayed Companion set, released in 2016, offers one of the most intellectually charged dualities within KAWS’ sculptural vocabulary. Presented as paired figures, the classic Companion—recognizable by its rounded forms, gloved hands, and “X” eyes—is juxtaposed with its anatomical counterpart: the Flayed Companion, whose body is dissected to reveal an intricate interior of organs, muscles, and skeletal structure.

Each pair operates as a visual dialogue between exterior and interior, surface and substance. While the standard Companion maintains its familiar, almost comforting cartoon-like presence, the Flayed version disrupts this comfort, exposing what lies beneath with clinical precision. The figures are produced in multiple colorways—grey, black, brown, and blush—each reinforcing subtle shifts in tone, from neutral introspection to more visceral, almost corporeal intensity.

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Introduction
COMPANIONS, 2016
COMPANION (Brown), 2016
COMPANION (Black), 2016
COMPANION (Grey), 2016
COMPANION (Blush), 2016
BLUSH COMPANION, 2016
BLUSH COMPANION FLAYED, 2016

Introduction

Executed in painted cast vinyl, the works exemplify KAWS’ mastery of industrial fabrication and edition production. Released in collaboration with Medicom Toy, the figures maintain a flawless surface quality, even in their most complex anatomical passages.

The Flayed Companion, in particular, demonstrates a remarkable level of sculptural detailing. Organs are stylized yet legible—lungs, intestines, and musculature rendered with a graphic clarity that echoes both medical illustration and pop aesthetics. This tension between precision and stylization is central to the work’s impact.

At its core, Companion / Flayed Companion is a meditation on duality. KAWS invites the viewer to confront the relationship between outward identity and inner reality—between the polished, consumable image and the raw complexity beneath.

The gesture recalls historical anatomical studies, from Renaissance écorché figures to modern medical diagrams, yet here it is filtered through the language of contemporary culture. The Companion, a figure born from appropriation and mass media, is quite literally opened up—its emotional and physical interior made visible.

There is also an undercurrent of vulnerability. The Flayed Companion, despite its graphic exposure, does not appear violent; rather, it feels strangely calm, even resigned. In contrast to the playful exterior of the traditional Companion, this version suggests introspection, fragility, and perhaps a quiet acknowledgment of mortality.

Released in 2016, this series emerges at a moment when KAWS had fully established his position at the intersection of fine art, design, and global popular culture. The pairing of Companion and Flayed Companion reflects an increasing conceptual maturity, moving beyond purely iconic forms toward more layered and reflective works.

The edition format allowed for wide dissemination, yet the conceptual rigor of the set ensured its immediate recognition among both collectors and institutions as a pivotal development in KAWS’ practice.

Today, the Companion / Flayed Companion set is widely regarded as one of the most significant editioned works in KAWS’ oeuvre. Its conceptual clarity, combined with strong visual identity, has secured sustained demand across both primary and secondary markets.

Collectors are often drawn to the pairing itself—the necessity of owning both figures to fully grasp the work’s meaning. Individual figures circulate independently, yet the complete set carries a particular resonance, reinforcing the intended dialogue between appearance and essence.

More broadly, the series encapsulates KAWS’ enduring strength: the ability to operate within the language of popular culture while engaging with themes traditionally reserved for high art. Here, beneath the familiar “X” eyes, the artist offers something unexpectedly profound—a quiet dissection not only of the figure, but of the human condition itself.

COMPANIONS, 2016

Companions:
Grey/Black/Brown/Blush (Full Bodied; and Flayed)

The complete set of 8 works
Medium: Painted cast vinyl
Year: 2016
Dimensions: 28x11x6 cm (11 x 4-1/2 x 2-1/4 inches)
Edition: Open edition
Produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo

Stamped signature, date, number and manufacturer’s mark to underside
‘©KAWS..16 Open Edition Medicom Toy China’

Auction Results

Heritage Auctions: 4 November 2019
USD 5,250

KAWS (b. 1974)
Companion, set of eight, 2016
Painted cast vinyl
Open Edition
Each stamped on the underside
Produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo

COMPANION (Brown), 2016

Companion: Brown (Full Bodied; and Flayed)

Medium: Painted cast vinyl
Year: 2016
Dimensions: 28x11x6 cm (11 x 4-1/2 x 2-1/4 inches)
Edition: Open edition
Produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo

Stamped signature, date, number and manufacturer’s mark to underside
‘©KAWS..16 Open Edition Medicom Toy China’

COMPANION (Black), 2016

Companion: Black (Full Bodied; and Flayed)

Medium: Painted cast vinyl
Year: 2016
Dimensions: 28x11x6 cm (11 x 4-1/2 x 2-1/4 inches)
Edition: Open edition
Produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo

Stamped signature, date, number and manufacturer’s mark to underside
‘©KAWS..16 Open Edition Medicom Toy China’

COMPANION (Grey), 2016

Companion: Grey (Full Bodied; and Flayed)

Medium: Painted cast vinyl
Year: 2016
Dimensions: 28x11x6 cm (11 x 4-1/2 x 2-1/4 inches)
Edition: Open edition
Produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo

Stamped signature, date, number and manufacturer’s mark to underside
‘©KAWS..16 Open Edition Medicom Toy China’

COMPANION (Blush), 2016

Companion: Blush (Full Bodied; and Flayed)

Medium: Painted cast vinyl
Year: 2016
Dimensions: 28x11x6 cm (11 x 4-1/2 x 2-1/4 inches)
Edition: Open edition
Produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo

Stamped signature, date, number and manufacturer’s mark to underside
‘©KAWS..16 Open Edition Medicom Toy China’

Auction Results

LA Modern: 17 March 2026
Estimated: USD 400 – 600
USD 640

KAWS (Brian Donnelly, b.1974)
Companion (Blush) (two works), 2016
Painted cast vinyl
Stamped signature, date, number and manufacturer’s mark to underside of each work
‘©KAWS..16 Open Edition Medicom Toy China’
These works are from the open editions
Produced by Medicom Toy, Tokyo
Sold in original packaging

Tate Ward Auctions: 17 March 2026
Estimated: GBP 300 – 500
GBP 375 / USD 500

KAWS (American 1974-)
‘Companion (Blush)(Flayed & Standard)’, 2017
Two vinyl figures
Both stamped with manufacturers details to the underside of the foot
Manufactured by Medicom Toys