ART:

One of Banksy‘s most prolific pieces is becoming an NFT. The piece, most commonly known as Gorilla in a Pink Mask, was first executed in the artist’s hometown of Bristol in 2001 on the wall of the current Jalabad Cultural Centre. However, in 2011 it was painted over before it was removed by Exposed Walls in 2020.

Exposed Walls is a company that specializes in preserving street art. In September 2020, Exposed Walls acquired the piece from the owners of the Muslim center the graffiti was painted on. After purchasing the piece, the company restored it to its present quality and is now fractionalized into 10,000 individual NFT pieces for purchase. Each NFT is expected to cost $750 USD. When all are sold out, one of the lucky owners will be selected at random and awarded with another one-off mural by Banksy titled Refugees (2001).

Each owner of the 10,000 fractionalized pieces will be given a certificate of authentication to showcase their ownership. Gorilla in a Pink Mask is not the only Banksy piece set to be sold as 10,000 separate NFTs. Earlier this month, the artist’s Love Is in the Air was also divided into multiple NFTs, giving fans to own a part of the historic work from the artist. All proceeds of the sale will be donated to The Gorilla Organization and Developing Health and Independence charity.

Check out Exposed Walls for more informationBrooklyn-based artist Michael Kagan is known for his gestural artwork that typically depicts astronauts, Formula 1 drivers and the various technologies that power them. Kagan is currently exhibiting a series of new paintings at Kantor Gallery, however, for those who can’t make the show, the artist is also auctioning off a sculptural astronaut through Artsy and Sotheby’s with the proceeds benefitting the New York Academy of Art.

CERNAN (Black), 2020 is made of polyresin and depicts a graphite astronaut with hits of red along its space suit. The sculpture is part of Kagan’s artist proofs, which he donated as a way to honor the Academy in which he attended grad school 20 years ago. “It’s a special and important place in the city and the art world and it was a key part of my path that lead to where I am today,” said the artist in a statement. 

Standing at 11 inches high and 5 inches wide, the sculpture being auctioned is edition 20/20. The current bid stands at $3,500 USD and will end today at 12pm PST via Artsy.Confront Art is auctioning two influential sculptures of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd in Sotheby’s Contemporary Art sale.

The two busts were made by artist Chris Caranbuci as part of the art collective’s SEEINJUSTICE series. Each is composed of more than 200 layers of CNC cut plywood and is based on original 3D models by the father-son duo, Daniel Edwards and Rodman Edwards.

“We are still very much fighting for justice for Breonna,” said Tamika Palmer, mother to Breonna Taylor. “This project not only captures Breonna’s spirit, it is a monument standing for a call to justice for her, and the others who have suffered the same fate, and a beautiful way [to] honor her life.”

FLOYD stands at six feet tall, while Breonna: Oya (kí èmí wa gùn kí ikú wa kúrú) is roughly four feet high. The latter work also features the Yoruba traditions of Nigerian artist, Láolú Senbanjo (also known as Láolú NYC). Both are currently available to bid on as part of Sotheby’s Contemporary Art sale, which will end on December 17 at 9:44am PST. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Breonna Taylor Foundationand WE ARE FLOYD.