KAWS, Urge V (White)

KAWS, Urge V (White)
Screenprint
17 x 12 in
43.2 x 30.5 cm
Edition of 250 plus 50 AP

In Urge V (White) (2020), KAWS delivers one of the most emotionally potent works in his Urge series. Centered on his iconic Companion figure, the piece depicts a pale, almost vulnerable form with closed eyes marked by the artist’s signature X symbols. Four colorful gloves — in purple, orange, mustard yellow, and teal — reach inward, pressing against the figure’s chest and face in a mix of tenderness and tension.

This intimate arrangement captures the series’ central theme: the psychological complexity of human touch. The overlapping hands evoke sensations of care, protection, and suppression all at once — visual metaphors for the push and pull of emotional intimacy in contemporary life. KAWS transforms this pop-culture-inspired image into a profound reflection on empathy, anxiety, and the desire for connection.

The crisp linework, meticulous crosshatching, and vivid color contrast highlight KAWS’s mastery of translating cartoon familiarity into fine art sophistication. The white background amplifies a sense of exposure and fragility, allowing the emotional narrative to unfold through gesture and color alone.

Urge V (White) stands as a culmination of the series’ introspective tone — a visual dialogue between innocence and intensity. Through his signature blend of accessibility and depth, KAWS turns the language of animation into a universal study of emotion, reminding viewers that beneath the surface of pop imagery lies the shared vulnerability of being human.