If you are considering selling a KAWS painting, print, sculpture, Companion, limited edition or other artwork, the first step is identifying exactly what you own. KAWS works across painting, sculpture, printmaking and collectible editions, and the value of one work can differ substantially from another based on medium, series, edition size, colorway, signature, condition, provenance, documentation, rarity and current collector demand.
We evaluate KAWS artworks for private collectors, estates, families and owners who want to understand what they own and determine the best way to sell it. For works we are actively seeking, we may also make a confidential direct purchase offer.
What Kind of KAWS Artwork Do You Own?
KAWS has created paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, figures and limited editions across a wide range of formats.
We evaluate:
- KAWS paintings and unique works
- Signed and numbered prints
- Screenprints and portfolios
- Companion sculptures and figures
- Chum, BFF and Accomplice works
- Limited sculptures and editions
- Complete print sets and portfolios
- Works from the OriginalFake period
- Signed and unsigned documented editions
- Other documented KAWS artworks
Correctly identifying the exact work is especially important with KAWS because paintings, fine-art editions, limited sculptures, collectible figures and reproductions can occupy very different markets.
How Much Is My KAWS Worth?
The value of a KAWS artwork depends on the exact work rather than the artist’s name alone.
Important factors can include:
- Medium
- Series or character
- Edition size
- Colorway
- Signature
- Dimensions
- Condition
- Provenance
- Original packaging
- Purchase documentation
- Rarity
- Current collector demand
For KAWS prints and editioned works, recent sales of the same image, edition and colorway can be particularly useful. Current specialist pages also emphasize condition, provenance, edition size and colorway when valuing KAWS.
What Determines the Value of a KAWS Artwork?
Several factors can materially affect KAWS market value.
Medium and Type of Work
KAWS’s market includes paintings, prints, sculptures, collectible figures and limited editions.
Each category has its own market. A unique painting should not be compared directly with a signed screenprint or editioned vinyl figure.
Series and Character
Collector demand can vary by subject and character. Works associated with Companion, Chum, BFF, Accomplice and other recognizable KAWS imagery may attract different levels of interest depending on the exact work and edition.
Edition Size and Colorway
Edition size can affect rarity, while colorway can influence collector demand.
For certain KAWS prints and sculptures, one colorway may trade differently from another even when the underlying work is otherwise similar. Current specialist valuation pages explicitly identify colorway and edition size as key factors.
Condition
Condition can materially affect value.
For prints, we may review fading, creasing, staining, trimming, handling marks and framing history.
For sculptures and figures, we may review surface wear, scratches, discoloration, repairs, missing components and packaging condition.
Provenance and Documentation
Invoices, gallery records, auction history, certificates, retailer receipts, original boxes and other documentation can help establish the history and marketability of a KAWS work.
Current KAWS seller guides place particular emphasis on provenance and paperwork, especially for prints and editions.
KAWS Prints and Portfolios
KAWS has produced numerous signed and numbered print editions and complete portfolios.
Important factors may include:
- Exact image or series
- Edition size
- Artist’s Proof designation
- Signature
- Paper
- Dimensions
- Condition
- Provenance
- Completeness of a set
Complete print sets can trade differently from individual works removed from the same portfolio. Current seller guides specifically highlight sets such as Ups and Downs, Blame Game and No Reply as recognizable KAWS print groups.
KAWS Sculptures, Figures and Editions
KAWS sculptures and limited editions include works in a range of materials, scales and colorways.
Important details can include:
- Exact title
- Character
- Dimensions
- Material
- Edition size
- Colorway
- Edition markings
- Original packaging
- Condition
- Provenance
The market for a fine-art sculpture can be very different from the market for a commercial collectible figure, so correctly classifying the work is essential before estimating value.
How Do I Know If My KAWS Is Authentic?
Authentication and correct identification are especially important with KAWS because counterfeit figures, sculptures and reproductions are common in the secondary market.
Important details can include:
- Dimensions
- Materials
- Edition markings
- Signature
- Base markings
- Packaging
- Labels
- Retailer or gallery documentation
- Purchase history
- Provenance
A logo, signature or box should not be relied upon by itself. The complete work and its documentation should be evaluated together.
For prints, the signature, edition number, paper, dimensions and provenance should correspond with the documented edition.
Signed vs. Unsigned KAWS Works
Many KAWS fine-art prints are signed and numbered, while other works and collectible editions may be unsigned.
A signed work generally occupies a different market from an unsigned edition, but the exact category and documentation matter.
Before selling an unsigned KAWS, it is important to determine whether the work is a documented edition, commercial collectible, reproduction or another type of object.
Should I Sell My KAWS Privately or at Auction?
Both private sale and auction can be appropriate depending on the artwork.
Auction can provide broad exposure for rare or highly desirable KAWS paintings, sculptures and major editions that may attract competitive bidding. However, auction can also involve estimates, reserves, scheduled sale dates, seller-related costs and the possibility that a work does not sell.
A direct private sale can offer greater discretion, more control over timing and a more predictable transaction.
Before deciding how to sell your KAWS, it is important to identify the exact work and review its medium, edition, colorway, condition, provenance, documentation, recent comparable sales and current collector demand.
How to Sell Your KAWS
Start by sending clear photographs of the artwork along with any information or documentation you have.
For sculptures and figures, include:
- Multiple views
- Base markings
- Edition markings
- Original packaging
- Labels
- Any condition issues
For prints, include:
- Front and reverse
- Signature
- Edition number
- Dimensions
- Any gallery or auction documentation
We can then:
- Identify the specific KAWS work
- Review edition and colorway information
- Assess condition
- Review provenance and documentation
- Examine relevant recent sales
- Consider current private-market demand
- Determine whether the artwork may be appropriate for a direct purchase offer
Why Sell Your KAWS With Us?
Our gallery has decades of experience buying and selling Contemporary and Post-War art and works with private collectors, estates and institutions throughout the United States and internationally.
Each KAWS is evaluated individually. We focus on identifying the exact work, understanding its edition, condition, provenance and documentation, and reviewing current market evidence before discussing a potential purchase.
For completed acquisitions, we can coordinate payment, insurance, professional packing and fine-art transportation.
What Should I Send for a KAWS Valuation?
To begin, send:
- Clear photographs of the artwork
- Multiple views for sculptures and figures
- Photograph of the signature
- Edition number or markings
- Dimensions
- Colorway
- Original packaging, if available
- Gallery, auction or retailer records
- Purchase documentation
- Provenance
- Any known condition issues
You do not need complete records before contacting us. Clear photographs and basic ownership information are often enough for us to begin researching the artwork.
Ready to Sell Your KAWS?
If you own a KAWS painting, print, sculpture, Companion, limited edition or other artwork, send us photographs and any documentation you have.
We can help identify the work, evaluate its current market and determine whether it may be appropriate for a confidential direct purchase offer.