(UPDATE 6:45 p.m. EST): According to a statement from Kanye West's rep, the New York Times report about the sculpture's sale price was incorrect. "We are incredibly flattered that a number is being reported but at no point have we ever disclosed a sale price for the piece. The writer whose story was published in the NY Times unfortunately based his reporting on hearsay, conjecture, uninvolved third parties and the lack of fact checking,"the rep said. "Once again we are flattered by such interest, but as far as Mr. West is concerned—it's all about the art. We are looking forward to announcing when Famous will be available again for viewing."
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The sculpture featured in Kanye West's visual for "Famous" was recently put on display in Los Angeles. The life-size figures of celebrities—which included Taylor Swift, Amber Rose, and Donald Trump—were exhibited at a private weekend-long event by the gallery Blum & Poe and it is now reportedly up for sale for $4 million, according to The New York Times.
"I did the math in my head, and it took $500,000 to a million just to make it,” Aaron Axelrod, a Los Angeles artist, told The New York Times. "This caught me off guard. It’s one of the coolest pieces I’ve ever seen, which is kind of annoying because it’s Kanye West."
Members of DONDA said that it took four months of animated modeling, 3-D scanning, stylist consulting, and Instagram research to create the piece—an eerily lifelike replica of 12 naked celebrities, who even appear to be breathing while they sleep.
Tim Blum of Blum & Poe said Kanye had a sudden impulse to exhibit the work. Just five days after receiving the phone call from West's manager, the show was open. Kim Kardashian was there for the unveiling, and shared how she helped shape her own figure.
"I shaved my own butt," she told W. "It was a little too small, and then it was a little too big. I was there with the tools to get it right."
A member of West's team told The New York Times that the sculpture will be moving to a new location, but Blume said it is on sale for "the right buyer."
