'TAGGED' Dives Into J Balvin's Collection of Contemporary Art and Figurines
From his human-sized Whisbe sculptures to his wealth of Murakami and KAWS-designed pieces.
While primarily known for making beat-banging and feel-good reggaeton tunes, J Balvin’s influence permeates through other areas of culture such as fashion, footwear and art. His collaborative portfolio runs the gamut of industry figures and brands such as J Balvin, Bad Bunny, Jordan Brand and Guess. And outside of being a musical talent and designer, he’s also developed a love for collecting contemporary art and figurines, and Hypebeast has dove deeper into the Latino mogul’s art affinity in this latest TAGGED series episode.
J Balvin possesses a penchant for novelty collectibles. Over time, he’s accrued an impressive stash of sought-after prints, statues, and plushies, many of which are limited in quantity and premium in price point. Displayed throughout his various homes are five-inch Astroboys, human-sized Whisbe sculptures, 1000% BE@RBRICK as well as works from the likes of Daniel Arsham, Plastic Jesus, Ron English, and Kenny Scharf. In addition, Balvin also owns a Mickey Mouse painting by Jerkface, along with collaborations with Pokemon and Nickelodeon that reflect his passion for cartoons.
Takashi Murakami and KAWS — two of pop culture’s most renowned artists — are also held close to the Colombian artist’s heart. He’s forged a collaborative relationship with the former and shown a true appreciation for his iconic flower pieces by purchasing his Flowerballs and pillows and even commissioning an assortment of custom chains inspired by his designs. He’s shown his support for KAWS by etching one of the artist’s designs in his hair during the 2022 Grammys, as well as copping some of his most iconic works such as KAWS’ Passing Through, the KAWS x Disney Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket and a KAWS Bounty Hunter Companion.
You can peep a look at previous episodes of TAGGED here, and be sure to catch up on other Hypebeast series like Sole Mates.
