Kim Kardashian's latest art acquisition
The unstoppable rise of Slawn
Kim Kardashian is celebrated as the queen of social media and a powerhouse business mogul behind multiple successful ventures, including Skims, SKKN by Kim, and her own investment firm, SKKY Partners. Yet, beyond her influence in business, social media, and reality TV, she is also a passionate art collector with an impressive roster of blue-chip names in her collection.
Her home, previously featured in Vogue and Architectural Digest, has offered glimpses into her collecting tastes. These spaces have showcased works by Anish Kapoor and Lucio Fontana, alongside pieces by artists such as Vanessa Beecroft and Isabel Rower, both of whom have previously collaborated with her ex-husband, Kanye West. However, Kim’s foray into art hasn’t been without controversy. In 2022, she was sued by the Donald Judd Foundation for incorrectly accrediting her "Judd-inspired" office furniture as an authentic piece by the artist.
Beyond her publicised displays, media reports have recently uncovered more about Kim’s growing collection. In 2023, she entered a high-profile bidding war with NFL legend Tom Brady over a George Condo painting at a charity event. Another striking piece in her collection that has recently featured in the background of her Instagram story is a 1982 Jean-Michel Basquiat painting titled Both Poles. Stretched over twine-bound, found wooden slats, the piece prominently features an “N” and opposing “S,” symbolising the north and south poles. Given her daughter’s name, North West, perhaps it was only a matter of time before Kim started collecting the rest of the compass.
The Basquiat last sold at Christie’s, London, in 2017 for £3.8 million ($5 million).
While Kim’s collection reflects her penchant for acquiring works by household names, she has also begun exploring rising talent in the art world. Nigerian artist, Olaolu Akeredolu-Ale, professionally known as Slawn, is the latest artist to have entered Kim’s collection.
Slawn is an artist quickly rising to prominence. Born in Nigeria, Slawn’s career began at Wafflesncream, the country’s first skate shop. It was here that he connected with fellow creatives and co-founded the apparel brand Motherlan, which gained recognition from high-profile tastemakers such as the late Virgil Abloh. In 2018, Slawn moved to London to study graphic design at Middlesex University. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he shifted his focus to painting. His now signature spray-painted caricatures, defined by vibrant colours and exaggerated facial features, are a nod to his skate culture roots and street art influences.
At just 24 years old, Slawn’s rapid rise has been marked by a string of impressive achievements. In 2022, British rapper Skepta included one of Slawn’s works in his Contemporary Curated sale at Sotheby’s, where another piece in the sale made by Skepta himself was also tagged by Slawn in collaboration. By 2023, Slawn became the youngest artist to design a BRIT Award, solidifying his reputation as a creative force to watch. Subsequently, his collaborative projects have spanned fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dr. Martens, and Rolex. He has also released a limited edition sculpture with Avant Arte.
One of Slawn’s career-defining moments came last year when Saatchi Yates, the gallery owned by Phoebe Saatchi Yates (daughter of Charles Saatchi, a pioneer of London’s Young British Artists movement), invited him for a solo exhibition. One wall of his solo show featured a floor to ceiling installation of 1,000 spray-painted canvases. Every single canvas sold out, and at £1000 each…you do the math.
Lastly, by the end of 2024, Artsy named Slawn the number one artist on their platform in terms of enquiry growth, with a staggering 1,082% increase in interest. Slawn’s surge in attention clearly spanned all the way to Hollywood, where his ability to merge street culture with high fashion and art caught the eye of Kim Kardashian.
Kim's acquisition is a work by Slawn made in collaboration with UK rapper Central Cee. The painting was shared by Kim on her Instagram story, alongside another work solely by Slawn, introducing the artist to her 358 million followers. With The Kardashians set to return with a new series on Disney+ next week, maybe viewers will catch a glimpse of Kim’s latest acquisition displayed on the walls of her ultra-minimalist, Axel Vervoordt-designed mansion.
Here’s a video of the work in the making:
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It is Slawn’s trademark nonchalant attitude that has cemented him as a provocateur in the art world. His Instagram bio reads, “i’m not an artist, i paint like a 6-year-old,” a playful nod to his unapologetically raw and unpolished style. His temperament feels entirely of the moment, a knowing wink to the ways in which the art world feeds on spectacle. He’s so shamelessly dismissive of the power dynamics that govern the industry that, ironically, he is on the path to conquering it. Exuding a sense of playful defiance, Slawn’s rise isn’t just about his art; it’s about his ability to rewrite the rules and make the establishment chase after him on his own terms. Perhaps Kim sees in Slawn a kindred spirit—an unapologetic rise, individualist energy, and the same self-assuredness that shaped her own ascent to cultural dominance.
wow feeling embarrassed that this is the first time I've heard of slawn! thanks for the newsletter