From September 24 to 27, 2026, a 30-metre COMPANION lies beside West Lake in Hangzhou. For the first time as a robot. And as always with KAWS: the accompanying vinyl figures are limited, the launch is worldwide – and most collectors walk away empty-handed.
What's happening in Hangzhou
KAWS and AllRightsReserved continue the series of monumental installations they started in 2018. For Hangzhou, the COMPANION has been reimagined from the ground up: mechanical forms, a robotic body, but the familiar face with the XX eyes. The installation at one of the famous “Ten Scenes of West Lake” is free to visit and coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is accompanied by a KAWS Hangzhou collection launching worldwide on September 24 – including limited vinyl figures in the new robot silhouette.
Anyone who has followed the last few drops knows the routine: raffle or sell-out in seconds, then the resale market. Meanwhile, the KAWS x UNIQLO “Universe” collection has been out since September 14 – tees for around 30 dollars, plush charms for 20. That's the other side of the KAWS strategy: mass reach at UNIQLO, scarce numbers on the collector's shelf.
Why this matters for collectors in Europe
KAWS has shown how value is created: broad recognition, deep scarcity. We covered this after the FELLOWS drop in July. The catch for collectors: at every major drop, a bot or a lottery decides whether you get a figure. The Robot COMPANION will be no exception.
That's exactly where AKCNSTUDIOS comes in. Our editions are small – 20, 50 or 100 pieces – but they are never raffled. If you want one, you get one, as long as the edition lasts. No raffle, no resale premium, no mass-produced vinyl: resin, individually crafted, numbered, signed, made in Germany.
Three editions you can actually get
THE NOIR – 28 cm, Edition of 100
The first art object by AKCNSTUDIOS. Matte black, 28 centimetres, 100 pieces worldwide. Already standing between Ferrari and Lamborghini in showrooms and YouTube studios. View THE NOIR →
THE NINE – 20 cm, 20 pieces per edition
The striker, frozen in the moment before the first explosive step. Two editions – Black and Colour – 20 pieces each, with a hand-signed certificate. View THE NINE →
THE SPLIT & PEEL – 12 cm, Edition of 50
The new figure in the NOT A TOY collection: a monkey with a visor peeling a banana that isn't one. The release runs through the waitlist – if you're on it, you get the purchase link before Instagram and before the site. Join the waitlist → · All details on the figure
Vinyl vs. resin – the real difference
KAWS Companions are factory vinyl: injection-moulded, thousands of units, the design is the product. A resin sculpture is cast, sanded, refined – every piece individually. That's more expensive, slower, and rules out an edition of 10,000. That's exactly why our collection is called NOT A TOY. More in Resin vs. Vinyl.
How to use September 24
- Try your luck at the KAWS drop – honestly, why not.
- If it doesn't work out: take the budget you had set aside anyway and put it into an edition nobody can click away from you.
- Get on the SPLIT & PEEL waitlist – 50 pieces, no second run.
What else collectors should check with small editions is covered in the beginner's guide for art toy collectors.
About AKCNSTUDIOS
AKCNSTUDIOS is the designer art brand of the artist AKCN. Under the NOT A TOY label, limited designer sculptures in resin are created – from the first stroke to the signature, one pair of hands: digitally modelled, finished by hand, cast in Germany, every piece individually sanded, refined, numbered and signed. Contact: studio@akcn.de · Instagram @akcnstudios
FAQ
When does KAWS Hangzhou take place?
The installation at West Lake is open from September 24 to 27, 2026; the accompanying collection launches worldwide on September 24.
What's new about the Robot COMPANION?
The COMPANION appears with a robotic body for the first time – the XX eyes remain, the silhouette is entirely new. It's also released as a limited vinyl figure.
Can I get an AKCNSTUDIOS figure without a raffle?
Yes. Our editions are never raffled. THE NOIR and THE NINE can be ordered directly; THE SPLIT & PEEL runs through the waitlist – first come, first served.
What's the difference between a KAWS figure and a NOT A TOY sculpture?
Mass-produced vinyl versus individually crafted resin. Editions in the thousands versus 20 to 100 pieces. Both have their place – but only one of them is still available while you're reading this.
ART BELONGS WHERE ICONS LIVE.