Untitled (Original Fake Series)

A Rare Genesis Work from the Birth of the OriginalFake Era

Dating to 2002, this Untitled work is a premier example of KAWS's early mastery of the "Package Painting" concept. Created during a transformative period for Brian Donnelly, this piece serves as a foundational bridge between his 1990s "subvertising" graffiti and the global phenomenon of his OriginalFake brand.

In 2002, KAWS was refining the aesthetic that would soon dominate the contemporary art market. This work features the iconic "Companion" head iconography, characterized by the signature crossed-out "X" eyes and soft-edge graphic precision. By encasing a hand-painted canvas within a mass-market retail blister pack, KAWS creates a brilliant tension between the "unique object" of fine art and the "mass-produced" nature of toy culture.

Collectors of Blue-Chip Contemporary Art and Urban Pop prioritize 2002 works for their historical proximity to KAWS's initial rise in Japan. This was the year he solidified his partnership with Medicom Toy, setting the stage for the limited-edition culture that defines today's art market. To own a 2002 Package Painting is to own a piece of the blueprint that changed how the world views the intersection of fine art, fashion, and consumer products.