Urge 8
Urge 8
Signed Print
KAWS
£18,000-£27,000Value Indicator
$35,000-$60,000 Value Indicator
$35,000-$50,000 Value Indicator
¥170,000-¥250,000 Value Indicator
€22,000-€30,000 Value Indicator
$180,000-$270,000 Value Indicator
¥3,460,000-¥5,190,000 Value Indicator
$23,000-$35,000 Value Indicator
AAGR (5 years) This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.
There aren't enough data points on this work for a comprehensive result. Please speak to a specialist by making an enquiry.
Medium: Screenprint
Edition size: 250
Year: 2020
Size: H 43cm x W 32cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Print
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Auction Results
| Auction Date | Auction House | Location | Hammer Price | Return to Seller | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Los Angeles Modern Auctions | United States | |||
| April 2024 | Wright | United States | |||
| January 2024 | SBI Art Auction | Japan | |||
| March 2023 | Tate Ward Auctions | United Kingdom | |||
| December 2022 | Tate Ward Auctions | United Kingdom | |||
| December 2022 | Rago | United States | |||
| September 2022 | SBI Art Auction | Japan |
Meaning & Analysis
Urge 8 is a signed screen print in colours produced by the ground-breaking American artist and designer, KAWS in 2020. The print depicts the beloved cartoon character, Companion. Companion is rendered in purple in the centre of the composition. Opting for a portrait style print, only the cartoon’s shoulders and face are visible. At the bottom of the composition, KAWS draws four hands, each rendered in a different bright and vibrant colour.
The print is part of KAWS’ Urge collection, a body of ten vibrant screen prints made in 2020. Each print in the collection depicts Companion surrounded by cartoon-style hands. Unlike other prints in the Urge collection, in Urge No. 8 Companion’s face is visible in its entirety, contrasting with the other prints in which his face is obscured by the gloved hands
KAWS is famous for having created an impressive stock of cartoon characters that reappear in different settings and iterations throughout his artworks. Companion is arguably the most well-known and internationally recognised of these characters, however Chum, Bendy and Accomplice are other notable figures that often appear in KAWS’ prints. KAWS’ cartoon characters reflect the artist’s love for animation and the artist’s visual style is clearly influenced by comic strips and animated television series.
American-born artist, KAWS, is renowned for his cartoon figures, prints and 'subvertisements'. Born in 1974 to the burgeoning New York graffiti and street art scene, KAWS has successfully combined fine art and pop culture to create his own lane in the urban art world. His distinct aesthetic, characterised by playful figures and a subversive take on pop culture icons, has earned him acclaim in both the art and mainstream realms. Most notable is his Companion figure which has achieved global critical and commercial success, and has formed collaborations with the likes of Nike and Dior Homme.
