DALLAS, TX.- A historic early painting by KAWS, which transformed a New York bus stop into an iconic piece of street art, will lead an important sale of Urban Art held by Heritage Auctions July 22-23 in Chicago.

On the heels of the record-setting presentation of The Toy Collection of Ronnie K. Pirovino, Heritage Auctions invited Pirovino to curate a special session during its summer Urban Art Auction, which coincides with the inaugural ComplexCon in Chicago. Pirovino has carefully selected items from his collection and those of friends.

"I truly relish the occasion to harness my vision in this forum," Pirovino said, "interacting globally with fellow collectors who recognize the vital elements of our time."

Companion – Bus Stop, 2001 (estimate: $300,000-500,000) is from the artist's early and sought after ad disruption series, in which he augmented or replaced large advertisements with his art. It is one of the artist's earliest known portrayals of his iconic Companion and only the second painting of its kind offered at public auction of the estimated 5-7 ad replacement disruptions known to exist. Bidding will start at $100,000.

The catalog essay on the painting, written by critic and curator Carlo McCormick, calls out the artwork: "KAWS' early forays into altered bus shelter adverts constitute a seminal body of work for the artist and the evolution of a new urban discourse now called street art."

"For an important piece like this, Heritage is sending Companion – Bus Stop on a world-wide tour with special previews and events in New York, Hong Kong, Dallas and Chicago," said Leon Benrimon, a Director of Modern and Contemporary Art at Heritage.

A representative of the painting will travel to Hong Kong for a preview June 24-28 at the Mira Hotel in Kowloon, 118 Nathan Road.

A representative of the work will then head to Dallas July 8-12 to highlight a lecture and presentation featuring Pirovino, titled "Rogue Collector" at 6 p.m. July 9 as part of Heritage's Speaker Series.

The artwork makes its final stop at ComplexCon Chicago, July 20-21. An innovative presentation, the painting will be displayed in its original format in a full-scale true-to-life bus stop at the Heritage booth.

The painting will highlight the July 22 auction with live floor bidding at Heritage Auctions Chicago, 215 West Ohio Street