DALLAS, TX.- The first major auction of streetwear by from brands like Supreme and BAPE, including artworks by KAWS, hit five-figure sale prices in
Heritage Auctions March 6 Urban Art & Supreme Featuring The Collection of Madchild Fine Art Online Auction in New York.
Popular contemporary artist KAWS produced 47 of the 111 lots (42.3 percent) offered, and every work offered in the sale sold.
KAWS is extremely hot right now, with art critics, fans and collectors alike, Heritage Auctions Director of Modern & Contemporary Art Leon Benrimon said. His popularity is international, and is reflected by the number of bidders who pursued his work in this sale.
The top lot of the night was by another major contemporary artist, as RETNA Eastern Realm (two works), 2014 claimed the events highest sale price when it went for $11,875. Recognized as an elite graffiti artist, RETNA is known for his signature style of letters and words that combines elements of Blackletter, Egyptian Hieroglyphics, Arabic and Hebrew calligraphy. The works in this lot are color screenprints on paper; one is editioned 35/60, the other 58/60 (each had 10 artists proofs).
The top two KAWS lots also yielded five-figure results when KAWS 2000 Running Chum and KAWS Companion (Grey), 2006, each of which realized $11,250. Running Chum is a 28-by-20-inch silkscreen on Arches paper that is editioned 14/50 and is signed, numbered and dated in pencil on the lower edge, while Companion (Grey) is a 20-by-20-inch silkscreen on paper. It is editioned 48/100 and is signed, numbered and dated in pencil along the lower edge.
KAWS BWWT 400% Be@rbrick, 2005, a beautiful Karimoku wood incarnation of the artists signature figure, brought $6,000. Incised on the reverse, it was produced by Tokyo-based Medicom Toy.
The run on KAWS lots was interrupted when OG Slicks 2014 Uzi Does It-Liberty or Death drew a winning bid of $5,250. The painted cast resin figure of Mickey Mouse, with a bandana around the lower part of his face and a submachine gun in his left hand, was published by Detroit-based 1XRun and stands 16-1/2 inches high.
The next 13 highest sale prices all came from KAWS creations:
KAWS 2013 Companion-Passing Through (Brown): $4,250
KAWS' Dissected Companion (Brown), 2006: $4,000
KAWS 2012 Astro Boy-Kaws Version: $4,000
KAWS 2013 Boba Fett: $3,875
KAWS Chomper BE@RBRICK 1000%, 2003: $3,500
KAWS 2002 Companion BE@RBRICK 1000%: $3,250
KAWS 2004 Companion-Five Years Later (Glow in the Dark): $3,250
KAWS 2013 Astro Boy-Kaws Version (Grey): $3,000
KAWS 2006 Dissected Companion (Grey): $2,750
KAWS' X Neighborhood Zooth (Black), 2007: $2,750
KAWS' X Peanuts Joe KAWS, 2011: $2,750
KAWS 2004 Companion-Five Years Later (Grey): $2,625
KAWS 2004 Companion-Five Years Later (Brown): $2,500
Among the auctions other highlights was a collection of more than two dozen items from streetwear brand Supreme, including:
Supreme X Spaldings 2007 Basketball: $1,875
Supreme Skateboard (Red), 2007: $1,625
Supreme Gold Foil Skateboard, 2011: $1,625
Supreme Rug: $1,625
Supreme Hermes Ashtray (Red and White), c. 2012: $1,500
Top lots from other artists included, but were not limited to:
Takashi Murakamis 2016 Mr. Dob (Gold) (Original Edition): $2,500
Takashi Murakamis 2016 Mr. Dob (Red) (Original Edition): $2,437.50
RETNAs 2012 Agua Sucia II: $2,125