*APC ART is pleased to present KAWS’ “THE PROMISE” (Gray Variant), a museum-scale painted cast vinyl sculpture measuring 34 × 16 × 24 cm (13.4 × 6.3 × 9.4 inches), published by KAWSONE and manufactured by Medicom in 2022 on the occasion of the FIFA World Cup. This example is brand new and factory sealed in its original manufacturer’s packaging — an increasingly important condition factor for serious collectors of KAWS’ sculptural editions.*

*KAWS stands as one of the most consequential artists of the 21st century — a figure who successfully bridged the worlds of street culture, fine art, design, fashion, and global popular imagery to create a new model for the contemporary artist. From his earliest interventions on advertising billboards in New York in the 1990s to his long-standing relationship with Japan and the founding of OriginalFake, KAWS has consistently reshaped the visual and economic landscape of contemporary art. Today his work resides in the permanent collections of the world’s leading institutions, including The Museum of Modern Art, The Brooklyn Museum, The National Gallery of Victoria, The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and major museums throughout Asia, Europe, and the United States. His auction results — across paintings, sculptures, and editioned objects — have firmly established him as one of the most globally collected artists of his generation, with a collector base that spans prominent figures in art, music, film, fashion, sport, and international finance.*

*“THE PROMISE” originates as a monumental bronze public sculpture commissioned for the Dadu Children’s Museum of Qatar and installed in Dadu Gardens for the 2022 World Cup — a milestone project that underscores KAWS’ transition from subcultural icon to internationally commissioned public artist. The composition depicts an adult Companion figure gently handing a globe to a child, a gesture that transforms KAWS’ familiar visual language into a deeply human and universally legible narrative. Themes of family, responsibility, environmental awareness, and global citizenship are embedded within the work, elevating it far beyond the realm of collectible design into the territory of contemporary sculpture with genuine emotional and conceptual resonance.*

*Formally, the gray monochrome treatment of the figures contrasts with the vivid polychrome globe, directing the viewer’s attention toward the symbolic transfer between generations. The bowed head of the parent figure, the outstretched arms of the child, and the shared contact with the Earth create a moment of quiet gravity — a rare instance of tenderness within KAWS’ oeuvre that has made this sculpture one of the most celebrated and emotionally powerful compositions of his career. The instantly recognizable Companion anatomy — the gloved hands, the crossed-out eyes, the softened cartoon-derived forms — is rendered here with a sculptural refinement that echoes the language of his large-scale bronze works.*

*Though commonly referred to as an “open edition,” KAWS’ vinyl releases are in practice time-released in finite, undocumented quantities and consistently become scarce once the primary distribution window closes. As a result, sealed examples in original packaging — particularly of major, historically tied releases such as this World Cup commission — have proven to be among the most desirable and investment-grade works within the artist’s editioned market.*

*This work represents the convergence of KAWS’ public sculpture practice, his most mature emotional vocabulary, and the global cultural stage of the World Cup. It is both a highly collectible sculptural object and a historically anchored artwork tied to a major international commission.*

*The sculpture is in hand in the United States and ready for immediate shipment. A pristine, factory-sealed example of one of KAWS’ most important and conceptually resonant editioned works — a cornerstone acquisition for the most advanced contemporary collections.*

*OFFERED EXCLUSIVELY BY APC ART* 
*MIA • ATL • NYC • LA • LONDON • PARIS • TOKYO* 

Provenance

Purchased direct from KAWSONE upon release. 
Embedded NFC chip in figure confirms authenticity. 

Condition

The work is brand new sealed in original packaging.