{"product_id":"kanye-west-original-18x24-k-borne-figure-character-study-artwork","title":"Kanye West - Original 18\"x24\" “K. Borne” Figure \u0026 Character Study Artwork","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003eFor inquiries \u0026amp; questions \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/iconorigin.com\/pages\/contact\" style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003eplease contact us here\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e or DM us on Instagram \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/iconorigin\" style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e@iconorigin\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eAn original \u003cstrong\u003e18\" x 24\" drawing by Kanye West\u003c\/strong\u003e, created during his art school years in the 1990s, long before he became internationally known as a musician, designer, and creative figure.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the center of the sheet is a \u003cstrong\u003eseated male figure study\u003c\/strong\u003e, surrounded by a collection of smaller experimental sketches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat makes this piece especially interesting is the repeated appearance of a distinctive \u003cstrong\u003emale profile wearing headphones\u003c\/strong\u003e, alongside the handwritten name \u003cstrong\u003e“K BORNE”\u003c\/strong\u003e repeated several times across the sheet. The exact context has not been definitively established, but the inscription may reference hip-hop artist \u003cstrong\u003eK. Borne\u003c\/strong\u003e, an artist associated with the Los Angeles-based FunkyTown Pros collective. K. Borne describes himself as being born in Newark, New Jersey, raised in Los Angeles, and a founding member of FunkyTown Pros. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf that identification is correct, it adds another fascinating layer to the work. Rather than being purely an academic figure study, the sheet may capture Kanye simultaneously exploring formal art-school exercises \u003cstrong\u003eand the hip-hop culture that was already occupying his imagination\u003c\/strong\u003e. Because the connection cannot be proven from the drawing alone, we believe it is best presented as a compelling possibility rather than a confirmed attribution.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe central figure itself shows Kanye working through \u003cstrong\u003eproportion, musculature, posture, and anatomical structure\u003c\/strong\u003e, while the surrounding heads become progressively more stylized. Some are loose construction sketches; others feature sharper profiles, pronounced hairlines, headphones, and more graphic facial features. You can see him repeatedly returning to the same visual idea, adjusting it each time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCreated during Kanye’s pre-fame art school period, the work was later offered through \u003cstrong\u003eJulien’s Auctions in 2022\u003c\/strong\u003e and bears the \u003cstrong\u003eDonda C. West\u003c\/strong\u003e stamp on the reverse, connecting it to the early archive preserved by his mother.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eItem Details\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArtist: Kanye West\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEra: 1990s \/ Pre-Fame Art School Period\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDimensions: Approx. 18\" x 24\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMedium: Graphite\/Pencil on Paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCentral seated male figure study\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMultiple male profile and facial studies\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeveral headphone-wearing character sketches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e“K BORNE” handwritten repeatedly throughout\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePossible reference to hip-hop artist K. Borne\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStudies in anatomy, musculature, portraiture, and character design\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMother Donda C. West stamp on reverse\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvenance: Julien’s Auctions, 2022\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal one-of-one artwork\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003eFor inquiries \u0026amp; questions \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/iconorigin.com\/pages\/contact\" style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003eplease contact us here\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e or DM us on Instagram \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/iconorigin\" style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e@iconorigin\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Icon Origin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42870639460437,"sku":null,"price":7600.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0650\/1308\/8341\/files\/DSC01510-1.jpg?v=1786657645","url":"https:\/\/iconorigin.com\/products\/kanye-west-original-18x24-k-borne-figure-character-study-artwork","provider":"Icon Origin","version":"1.0","type":"link"}