UPDATE: A rep for Kanye West has now denied any word of plans to sell any part of the "Famous" exhibition. "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 rep said to Pitchfork. “Once again we are flattered by such interest, but as far as Mr. West is concerned - it's all about the art."
Kanye West's "Famous" video stands as one of the most memorable videos of the year for obvious reasons, as it shows off 12 naked wax figures in a bed together, each one bearing a stunning likeness to a well-known celebrity figure. The bed includes Taylor Swift, Donald Trump, George W. Bush, Ray J, Chris Brown, both Kim and Kanye, and more. The incredibly lifelike figures even appear to be breathing as they sleep. Last week, the massive bed, with each figure still lying in the same spot, was showcased in a private exhibition at the Blum & Poe gallery in LA. Now the gallery is hoping to sell the entire piece as one, reports The New York Times. The price? About $4 million.
It hasn't been confirmed that Kanye is willing to let go of his beloved celebrity bedfellows, though the $4 million total is a reasonable early estimate of a selling price, according to Blum & Poe co-founder Tim Blum. The figure is a sum of the value of "the materials needed, labor, and Mr. West's name," says the NYT. LA-based artist Aaron Axelrod claims that he has figured out that it cost between $500,000 and $1 million just to construct the whole "Famous" spread. "This kind of caught me off guard," he said. "It's one of the coolest pieces I've ever seen, which is kind of annoying because it's Kanye West."