Kanye West Is Dying to Design Furniture for Ikea

He's a fan of minimalist design.

Kanye West performing at the 2015 Time 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Courtesy of photographer Clint Spaulding © Patrick McMullan.

If you’re in the market for an affordable line of minimalist furniture designed by musician, producer, fashion designer, performance artist, and presidential hopeful Kanye West, you’ll want to keep your fingers crossed.

Here’s what we know: Following the celebrity’s unexpected visit to Ikea’s headquarters in Älmhult, Sweden earlier this March, West’s ever-faithful media followers speculated that furniture design would be his next big frontier. Now, in an interview with BBC Radio 1, West has confirmed the buzz, stating his interest in collaborating with the Scandinavian giant: “I have to work with Ikea.”

Europe's biggest Ikea store in Kungens Kurva, south-west of Stockholm, Sweden. Courtesy of Getty Images.

Europe’s biggest Ikea store in Kungens Kurva, south-west of Stockholm, Sweden. Courtesy of Getty Images.

“Yo Ikea, allow Kanye to create,” West implored. “Allow him to make this thing because you know what, I want a bed that he makes, I want a chair that he makes.” West noted that college students in particular would be interested in the designs he has in mind, which would be perfect for a “minimalist apartment inside of a college dorm.”

According to the BBC, Ikea declined confirmation or comment regarding West’s public allusions to a collaboration, so don’t hold your breath for his sculptural visions just yet. (artnet News reached out to the Swedish home furnishing company, but had not heard back at the time of publication.) Given West’s hands-on approach, however, we’re sure he already has a few ideas in mind.

Kanye West. Courtesy of Getty Images.

Kanye West. Courtesy of Getty Images.

Should West secure a deal with Ikea, the artist will effectively have a hand in one of the design world’s biggest industries. Let’s just hope Ikea loves Kanye’s designs as much as Kanye does.


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