Street Artist Creates Giant Gold Crucifixion Sculpture of Kanye West as Jesus

The sculpture is part of a series of free-standing pieces that Plastic Jesus has dropped in and around the Oscars. In 2015, he created a life-size Oscar statue snorting cocaine on all fours. His other works have included an Oscar statue with a heroin need in its arm — inspired by the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman — and a graffiti piece with Lance Armstrong cycling while attached to an IV bag.

An image of Plastic Jesus’ new work, a life-size sculpture that casts Kanye West as a crucified Jesus. It was installed on Hollywood Boulevard on Feb. 22. (Photo: Jordan Riefe)

In a phone interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Plastic Jesus says the piece is titled “False Idol,” and was inspired by the way in which the media and the general public treat West.

“He’s a genius at writing and producing but he’s not a God, and that’s where we put him. Until there’s an issue in his life or a hiccup in his career, then we crucify him,” explains the photojournalist turned artist, who cites West’s controversial statements, recent breakdown and hospitalization as reasons for his public fall from grace. “We’ve seen it before with people like Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan. The same people who put him into a God-like place are the same yapping at his heels for a piece of flesh when something happens.”

Plastic Jesus admits that he’s “an admirer” of Kanye both musically and creatively. “The piece is intended to be as critical of us as consumers and the media as it is of Kanye himself. We’ve created this idol from somebody who is clearly talented,” he says.

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SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter
Chris Gardner