diff --git a/addons/account_analytic_default/views/account_analytic_default_view.xml b/addons/account_analytic_default/views/account_analytic_default_view.xml
index 805ec5250ca..bddeeaf80eb 100644
--- a/addons/account_analytic_default/views/account_analytic_default_view.xml
+++ b/addons/account_analytic_default/views/account_analytic_default_view.xml
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@
                             <div t-attf-class="oe_kanban_card oe_kanban_global_click">
                                 <div>
                                     <strong><span><field name="analytic_id"/></span></strong>
-                                    <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="oe_kanban_avatar o_image_24_cover float-right"/>
+                                    <t t-set="unassigned"><t t-esc="_t('Unassigned')"/></t>
+                                    <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value || unassigned" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="oe_kanban_avatar o_image_24_cover float-right"/>
                                 </div>
                                 <div t-if="record.date_start.value"><i class="fa fa-calendar"></i> From <field name="date_start"/> <t t-if="record.date_stop.value">to <field name="date_stop"/></t></div>
                                 <div t-if="record.product_id.value"><strong>Product</strong> <field name="product_id"/> </div>
diff --git a/addons/crm/views/crm_lead_views.xml b/addons/crm/views/crm_lead_views.xml
index aad23b2abb9..469661290ee 100644
--- a/addons/crm/views/crm_lead_views.xml
+++ b/addons/crm/views/crm_lead_views.xml
@@ -377,7 +377,8 @@
                                         </div>
                                     </div>
                                     <div class="oe_kanban_bottom_right">
-                                        <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="oe_kanban_avatar float-right"/>
+                                        <t t-set="unassigned"><t t-esc="_t('Unassigned')"/></t>
+                                        <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value || unassigned" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="oe_kanban_avatar float-right"/>
                                     </div>
                                 </div>
                             </div>
@@ -508,7 +509,8 @@
                                             <field name="activity_ids" widget="kanban_activity"/>
                                         </div>
                                         <div class="oe_kanban_bottom_right">
-                                            <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="oe_kanban_avatar"/>
+                                            <t t-set="unassigned"><t t-esc="_t('Unassigned')"/></t>
+                                            <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value || unassigned" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="oe_kanban_avatar"/>
                                         </div>
                                     </div>
                                 </div>
diff --git a/addons/hr_recruitment/views/hr_recruitment_views.xml b/addons/hr_recruitment/views/hr_recruitment_views.xml
index 15f9c723a90..ea11d7f5e0e 100644
--- a/addons/hr_recruitment/views/hr_recruitment_views.xml
+++ b/addons/hr_recruitment/views/hr_recruitment_views.xml
@@ -329,7 +329,8 @@
                                             <field name="legend_blocked" invisible="1"/>
                                             <field name="legend_done" invisible="1"/>
                                         </div>
-                                        <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="oe_kanban_avatar"/>
+                                        <t t-set="unassigned"><t t-esc="_t('Unassigned')"/></t>
+                                        <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value || unassigned" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="oe_kanban_avatar"/>
                                     </div>
 
                                 </div>
diff --git a/addons/maintenance/views/maintenance_views.xml b/addons/maintenance/views/maintenance_views.xml
index 17976dea62f..86209c2d090 100644
--- a/addons/maintenance/views/maintenance_views.xml
+++ b/addons/maintenance/views/maintenance_views.xml
@@ -164,7 +164,8 @@
                                     </div>
                                     <div class="oe_kanban_bottom_right">
                                         <field name="kanban_state" widget="state_selection"/>
-                                        <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="oe_kanban_avatar float-right"/>
+                                        <t t-set="unassigned"><t t-esc="_t('Unassigned')"/></t>
+                                        <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value || unassigned" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="oe_kanban_avatar float-right"/>
                                     </div>
                                 </div>
                             </div>
diff --git a/addons/mass_mailing/views/mailing_mailing_views.xml b/addons/mass_mailing/views/mailing_mailing_views.xml
index 5e8cfdb390e..c6fc0a3dc29 100644
--- a/addons/mass_mailing/views/mailing_mailing_views.xml
+++ b/addons/mass_mailing/views/mailing_mailing_views.xml
@@ -351,7 +351,8 @@
                                         <field name='mailing_model_id' attrs="{'invisible': [('mailing_model_name','=','mailing.list')]}"/>
                                         <span attrs="{'invisible': [('mailing_model_name','!=','mailing.list')]}">Mailing Contact</span>
                                     </span>
-                                    <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="o_image_24_cover oe_kanban_avatar float-right"/>
+                                    <t t-set="unassigned"><t t-esc="_t('Unassigned')"/></t>
+                                    <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value || unassigned" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="o_image_24_cover oe_kanban_avatar float-right"/>
                                 </div>
                             </div>
                         </t>
diff --git a/addons/project/views/project_views.xml b/addons/project/views/project_views.xml
index a42c64e6c05..47573ae7024 100644
--- a/addons/project/views/project_views.xml
+++ b/addons/project/views/project_views.xml
@@ -256,7 +256,8 @@
                                     </div>
                                     <div class="col-4">
                                         <div class="oe_kanban_bottom_right">
-                                            <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="oe_kanban_avatar o_image_24_cover float-right"/>
+                                            <t t-set="unassigned"><t t-esc="_t('Unassigned')"/></t>
+                                            <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value || unassigned" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="oe_kanban_avatar o_image_24_cover float-right"/>
                                         </div>
                                     </div>
                                 </div>
@@ -660,7 +661,8 @@
                                     </div>
                                     <div class="oe_kanban_bottom_right" t-if="!selection_mode">
                                         <field name="kanban_state" widget="state_selection" groups="base.group_user" invisible="context.get('fsm_mode', False)"/>
-                                        <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="oe_kanban_avatar"/>
+                                        <t t-set="unassigned"><t t-esc="_t('Unassigned')"/></t>
+                                        <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value || unassigned" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="oe_kanban_avatar"/>
                                     </div>
                                 </div>
                             </div>
diff --git a/addons/purchase_requisition/views/purchase_requisition_views.xml b/addons/purchase_requisition/views/purchase_requisition_views.xml
index 265a747b23f..3a18208b13e 100644
--- a/addons/purchase_requisition/views/purchase_requisition_views.xml
+++ b/addons/purchase_requisition/views/purchase_requisition_views.xml
@@ -244,7 +244,8 @@
                                     <field name="vendor_id"/>
                                 </div>
                                 <div class="oe_kanban_bottom_right">
-                                    <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="oe_kanban_avatar float-right"/>
+                                    <t t-set="unassigned"><t t-esc="_t('Unassigned')"/></t>
+                                    <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value || unassigned" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="oe_kanban_avatar float-right"/>
                                 </div>
                             </div>
                         </div>
diff --git a/addons/stock_picking_batch/views/stock_picking_batch_views.xml b/addons/stock_picking_batch/views/stock_picking_batch_views.xml
index a729315f9bd..24474a6e0b3 100644
--- a/addons/stock_picking_batch/views/stock_picking_batch_views.xml
+++ b/addons/stock_picking_batch/views/stock_picking_batch_views.xml
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@
                             <div class="o_kanban_record_bottom">
                                 <div class="oe_kanban_bottom_left"/>
                                 <div class="oe_kanban_bottom_right">
-                                    <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="oe_kanban_avatar"/>
+                                    <t t-set="unassigned"><t t-esc="_t('Unassigned')"/></t>
+                                    <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value || unassigned" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="oe_kanban_avatar"/>
                                 </div>
                             </div>
                         </div>
diff --git a/addons/web/controllers/main.py b/addons/web/controllers/main.py
index cdc2fa3b950..3041058826b 100644
--- a/addons/web/controllers/main.py
+++ b/addons/web/controllers/main.py
@@ -1367,7 +1367,8 @@ class Binary(http.Controller):
 
     @staticmethod
     def placeholder(image='placeholder.png'):
-        with tools.file_open(get_resource_path('web', 'static/src/img', image), 'rb') as fd:
+        image_path = image.lstrip('/').split('/') if '/' in image else ['web', 'static', 'src', 'img', image]
+        with tools.file_open(get_resource_path(*image_path), 'rb') as fd:
             return fd.read()
 
     @http.route(['/web/content',
@@ -1437,23 +1438,35 @@ class Binary(http.Controller):
     def _content_image(self, xmlid=None, model='ir.attachment', id=None, field='datas',
                        filename_field='name', unique=None, filename=None, mimetype=None,
                        download=None, width=0, height=0, crop=False, quality=0, access_token=None,
-                       placeholder='placeholder.png', **kwargs):
+                       placeholder=None, **kwargs):
         status, headers, image_base64 = request.env['ir.http'].binary_content(
             xmlid=xmlid, model=model, id=id, field=field, unique=unique, filename=filename,
             filename_field=filename_field, download=download, mimetype=mimetype,
             default_mimetype='image/png', access_token=access_token)
 
-        return Binary._content_image_get_response(status, headers, image_base64, field=field, download=download,
-                                                width=width, height=height, crop=crop, quality=quality,
-                                                placeholder=placeholder)
+        return Binary._content_image_get_response(
+            status, headers, image_base64, model=model, id=id, field=field, download=download,
+            width=width, height=height, crop=crop, quality=quality,
+            placeholder=placeholder)
 
     @staticmethod
-    def _content_image_get_response(status, headers, image_base64, field='datas', download=None,
-                                    width=0, height=0, crop=False, quality=0, placeholder='placeholder.png'):
+    def _content_image_get_response(
+            status, headers, image_base64, model='ir.attachment', id=None,
+            field='datas', download=None, width=0, height=0, crop=False,
+            quality=0, placeholder='placeholder.png'):
         if status in [301, 304] or (status != 200 and download):
             return request.env['ir.http']._response_by_status(status, headers, image_base64)
         if not image_base64:
-            image_base64 = base64.b64encode(Binary.placeholder(image=placeholder))
+            if placeholder is None and model in request.env:
+                # Try to browse the record in case a specific placeholder
+                # is supposed to be used. (eg: Unassigned users on a task)
+                record = request.env[model].browse(int(id)) if id else request.env[model]
+                placeholder_filename = record._get_placeholder_filename(field=field)
+                placeholder_content = Binary.placeholder(image=placeholder_filename)
+            else:
+                placeholder_content = Binary.placeholder()
+            image_base64 = base64.b64encode(placeholder_content)
+
             if not (width or height):
                 width, height = odoo.tools.image_guess_size_from_field_name(field)
 
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/views/kanban/kanban_record.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/views/kanban/kanban_record.js
index ab19e73d2eb..f199a286db6 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/views/kanban/kanban_record.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/views/kanban/kanban_record.js
@@ -184,14 +184,13 @@ var KanbanRecord = Widget.extend({
      * @returns {string} the url of the image
      */
     _getImageURL: function (model, field, id, placeholder) {
-        id = (_.isArray(id) ? id[0] : id) || false;
-        placeholder = placeholder || "/web/static/src/img/placeholder.png";
+        id = (_.isArray(id) ? id[0] : id) || null;
         var isCurrentRecord = this.modelName === model && this.recordData.id === id;
         var url;
         if (isCurrentRecord && this.record[field] && this.record[field].raw_value && !utils.is_bin_size(this.record[field].raw_value)) {
             // Use magic-word technique for detecting image type
             url = 'data:image/' + this.file_type_magic_word[this.record[field].raw_value[0]] + ';base64,' + this.record[field].raw_value;
-        } else if (!model || !field || !id || (isCurrentRecord && this.record[field] && !this.record[field].raw_value)) {
+        } else if (placeholder && (!model || !field || !id || (isCurrentRecord && this.record[field] && !this.record[field].raw_value))) {
             url = placeholder;
         } else {
             var session = this.getSession();
diff --git a/addons/web/static/tests/views/kanban_tests.js b/addons/web/static/tests/views/kanban_tests.js
index 0b8334472ad..c0a07c699fa 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/tests/views/kanban_tests.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/tests/views/kanban_tests.js
@@ -5264,8 +5264,15 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
                 return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
             },
         });
+        var images = kanban.el.querySelectorAll('img');
+        var placeholders = [];
+        for (var [index, img] of images.entries()) {
+            if (img.dataset.src.indexOf(this.data.partner.records[index].image) === -1) {
+                // Then we display a placeholder
+                placeholders.push(img);
+            }
+        }
 
-        var placeholders = kanban.$('img[data-src$="/web/static/src/img/placeholder.png"]');
         assert.strictEqual(placeholders.length, this.data.partner.records.length - 1,
             "partner with no image should display the placeholder");
 
diff --git a/addons/website_slides/views/slide_slide_views.xml b/addons/website_slides/views/slide_slide_views.xml
index 0301710e345..1f98a26f89d 100644
--- a/addons/website_slides/views/slide_slide_views.xml
+++ b/addons/website_slides/views/slide_slide_views.xml
@@ -211,7 +211,8 @@
                                             <t t-else=""><i class="fa fa-file-pdf-o mr-2" aria-label="Document" role="img" title="Document"/></t>
                                             <field name="slide_type"/>
                                         </span>
-                                        <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="oe_kanban_avatar o_image_24_cover"/>
+                                        <t t-set="unassigned"><t t-esc="_t('Unassigned')"/></t>
+                                        <img t-att-src="kanban_image('res.users', 'image_128', record.user_id.raw_value)" t-att-title="record.user_id.value || unassigned" t-att-alt="record.user_id.value" class="oe_kanban_avatar o_image_24_cover"/>
                                     </div>
                                 </div>
                             </div>
diff --git a/odoo/addons/base/data/res_users_data.xml b/odoo/addons/base/data/res_users_data.xml
index 6439180c2a7..dd1b504ff32 100644
--- a/odoo/addons/base/data/res_users_data.xml
+++ b/odoo/addons/base/data/res_users_data.xml
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ System</span>]]></field>
             <field name="company_id" ref="main_company"/>
             <field name="company_ids" eval="[(4, ref('main_company'))]"/>
             <field name="groups_id" eval="[(6,0,[])]"/>
+            <field name="image_1920" type="base64" file="base/static/img/avatar_grey.png"/>
             <field name="signature"><![CDATA[<span>-- <br/>
 Administrator</span>]]></field>
         </record>
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ Administrator</span>]]></field>
             <field name="login">default</field>
             <field name="active" eval="False"/>
         </record>
-        
+
         <record id="public_user" model="res.users">
             <field name="name">Public user</field>
             <field name="login">public</field>
diff --git a/odoo/addons/base/models/res_users.py b/odoo/addons/base/models/res_users.py
index 718a62c12aa..e428fb68b9a 100644
--- a/odoo/addons/base/models/res_users.py
+++ b/odoo/addons/base/models/res_users.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # Part of Odoo. See LICENSE file for full copyright and licensing details.
 import contextlib
 
+import base64
 import pytz
 import datetime
 import ipaddress
@@ -21,7 +22,8 @@ from odoo.exceptions import AccessDenied, AccessError, UserError, ValidationErro
 from odoo.http import request
 from odoo.osv import expression
 from odoo.service.db import check_super
-from odoo.tools import partition, collections, frozendict, lazy_property
+from odoo.tools import partition, collections, frozendict, lazy_property, image_process
+from odoo.modules.module import get_module_resource
 
 _logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -214,6 +216,17 @@ class Users(models.Model):
     def _companies_count(self):
         return self.env['res.company'].sudo().search_count([])
 
+    @api.model
+    def _get_default_image(self):
+        """ Get a default image when the user is created without image
+
+            Inspired to _get_default_image method in
+            https://github.com/odoo/odoo/blob/11.0/odoo/addons/base/res/res_partner.py
+        """
+        image_path = get_module_resource('base', 'static/img', 'avatar.png')
+        image = base64.b64encode(open(image_path, 'rb').read())
+        return image_process(image, colorize=True)
+
     partner_id = fields.Many2one('res.partner', required=True, ondelete='restrict', auto_join=True,
         string='Related Partner', help='Partner-related data of the user')
     login = fields.Char(required=True, help="Used to log into the system")
@@ -258,6 +271,7 @@ class Users(models.Model):
                                  compute='_compute_accesses_count')
     groups_count = fields.Integer('# Groups', help='Number of groups that apply to the current user',
                                   compute='_compute_accesses_count')
+    image_1920 = fields.Image(related='partner_id.image_1920', inherited=True, readonly=False, default=_get_default_image)
 
     _sql_constraints = [
         ('login_key', 'UNIQUE (login)',  'You can not have two users with the same login !')
@@ -913,6 +927,13 @@ class Users(models.Model):
     def _register_hook(self):
         if hasattr(self, 'check_credentials'):
             _logger.warning("The check_credentials method of res.users has been renamed _check_credentials. One of your installed modules defines one, but it will not be called anymore.")
+
+    def _get_placeholder_filename(self, field=None):
+        image_fields = ['image_%s' % size for size in [1920, 1024, 512, 256, 128]]
+        if field in image_fields and not self:
+            return 'base/static/img/user-slash.png'
+        return super()._get_placeholder_filename(field=field)
+
 #
 # Implied groups
 #
diff --git a/odoo/addons/base/static/img/user-slash.png b/odoo/addons/base/static/img/user-slash.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..626ddfcb8d2
Binary files /dev/null and b/odoo/addons/base/static/img/user-slash.png differ
diff --git a/odoo/models.py b/odoo/models.py
index bf8d8169666..37cd8386229 100644
--- a/odoo/models.py
+++ b/odoo/models.py
@@ -6152,6 +6152,13 @@ Record ids: %(records)s
 
         return result
 
+    def _get_placeholder_filename(self, field=None):
+        """ Returns the filename of the placeholder to use,
+            set on web/static/src/img by default, or the
+            complete path to access it (eg: module/path/to/image.png).
+        """
+        return 'placeholder.png'
+
 collections.Set.register(BaseModel)
 # not exactly true as BaseModel doesn't have __reversed__, index or count
 collections.Sequence.register(BaseModel)