Kanye West appears to be making his way back into the art world. The Chicago-born artist, celebrated for his work in music, fashion, video games, filmmaking, and architecture, has always had a deep connection to art. From a young age, Kanye’s artistic talent was undeniable. In a recent text exchange with producer Digital Nas, who worked on Vultures 1, Kanye revealed, “I’m going into my full art Ye art studio mode.” Digital Nas shared this on Instagram, signaling Kanye’s return to the art world. Kanye also hinted at this shift by posting clips from the 1995 satire The Painter, a film poking fun at famous artists.
In a 2014 interview with film director Steve McQueen for Interview Magazine, Kanye reflected on his history with art. “Well, I’m a trained fine artist. I went to art school from the time I was 5 years old. I was, like, a prodigy out of Chicago. I’d been in national competitions from the age of 14,” Kanye shared. He went on to say that he received multiple scholarships to art schools, including the Art Institute of Chicago. Kanye humorously added that while everyone knows him as a music icon, he’s always considered himself a fine artist who creates “sonic paintings.”
Some of Kanye’s early artwork from high school was valued at over $20,000 when it appeared on PBS’ Antiques Roadshow. Appraiser Laura Woolley commented on his surreal creations, stating, “I think these pieces demonstrate an extraordinary facility as an artist.”
Earlier this year, Kanye reportedly explored another venture—adult entertainment. TMZ reported that he had plans to launch a porn studio as part of his Yeezy empire. He teased the project with a post reading, “YEEZY PORN IS CUMMING.” However, he later scrapped the idea due to internal issues within Yeezy.
Leave a Reply