Kanye West's high school artwork valued at minimum $22,800

Kanye West's high school artwork has been valued at between US$16,000 (S$22,800) and US$23,000.

The rapper's cousin-in-law appeared on PBS' Antiques Roadshow to show off the impressive collection, which he created when he was just 17.

The programme's appraiser Laura Woolley priced the largest artwork at $6,000 to $8,000, with the rest valued at $2,000 to $7,000 each.

She explained: "It's an interesting thing when you look at art that is done by a celebrity because a good portion of the value of that artwork can actually depend on something I call the enduring legacy of the celebrity.

"We see the values rise and fall along with the popularity of the celebrity.

"I think despite the fact that some people might say that he's a controversial figure with his opinions and his career, I don't think anyone can deny the fact that he has extraordinary talent and I think that in time I would expect these to continue to appreciate.

"To have early pieces like this from someone who really will be an important cultural figure of our time I think is really fantastic."

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6se2lGrxhI&feature=emb_logo[/embed]

Among the artwork, is an advert - believed to have been penned in 1995 - for the sale of the items from his time at Chicago's Polaris High School for $10 for three or $12 apiece.

It also noted that Kanye, 42, first started art classes when he was just four.

The woman on the show explained that her husband was given the pieces following the death of Kanye's mother Donda West in 2007.

She shared: "My husband is Kanye West's first cousin. When Kanye's mother passed away in 2007, my husband received them as part of the estate about a year after she passed."

[[nid:467426]]

Laura added: "I think what really attracted me to these pieces is that a lot of people are probably not aware of how talented he is as an artist outside of his music career."

The elaborate masterpieces were created using graphite and gouache, and he even used a scratchboard technique.

Kanye's cousin-in-law explained that he was able to attend prestigious art colleges, such as the American Academy of Art in Chicago - where he later obtained a Bachelor degree in Fine Art - because his late mother was a teacher and encouraged him to follow his passion.

She explained: "Because his mother was an English college professor, she travelled all around the world and he went everywhere with her."