Kanye West 'Famous' sculpture not actually for sale despite reports of $4 million price tag

'The work is not for sale as of now and never was'

On the 31 October a report circulated online claiming the controversial sculpture featured in Kanye West’s ‘Famous’ music video - featuring a naked Taylor Swift, Ray Jay, and Donald Trump - was on sale for $4 million.

Giving credence to the claim was the New York Times, detailing how the co-founder of the Los Angeles gallery keeping the sculpture, Tim Blum, thought the price-tag was ‘a good ballpark’.

However, a conflicting report from the Los Angeles Times has emerged, slamming the NYT, saying the $4 million price tag does not exist as the piece is not for sale.

“It’s misinformation, the work is not for sale as of now and never was,” the gallery’s press representative, Nicoletta Beyer, told the publication. “We’ve never discussed or agreed upon a price [with West]. The $4 million, there’s no weight to that.”

Blum also went on record once more, saying his ‘ballpark’ remark was taken out of context. “The sculpture was never for sale; I was quoted out of context.

“It was just a pop-up exhibition based on my and the gallery’s interest in Kanye West as a multidisciplinary artist and the fact that we do these kinds of events with regularity.

He clarified that he was remarking on the general value of the artwork, not agreeing on a price: “He was saying that if it were for sale, that would make sense, hypothetically, but we don’t know where that particular number came from.”

A spokesperson for West said the rapper’s estate “are incredibly flattered that a number is being reported. But at no point have we ever disclosed a sale price for the piece.

“As far as Mr. West is concerned - it's all about the art.”

Since the release of ‘Famous’, West has released a second music video, this time for the song ‘Fade’ featuring Teyana Taylor dancing. The choreographer recently explained the video’s ‘catface’ ending.