An $11.7 million “Gold Cube” piece by German artist Niclas Castello had its debut on February 2 in Central Park, New York, and was only on a show that day. According to reports, the 410 lb (186 kg) cube is made of “pure, 24-carat, 999.9 fine gold.”
The gold cube was constructed by Art Foundry H. Rüetschi in Aarau and needed over 4500 hours of labor, according to a news release from Castello (Switzerland). The artwork supports the artist’s cryptocurrency, Castello Coin, the report also states.
A security team was posted close to the gold cube on Wednesday. Castello had previously teased the gold cube by circling Times Square with a fleet of vehicles while flashing an unknown location’s coordinates.
How well-known is Niclas Castello?
Before relocating to Paris in 2003, Niclas Castello was a part of the German street art scene in the late 1990s. The native of Neuhaus am Rennweg afterwards moved to New York, where he developed his creative flair the most.
In both American and European galleries during that time, Castello worked on a range of artistic endeavors. In the biography section of his website, Castello credits American video artist Arleen Schloss as his mentor. He allegedly spent two years with her in Schloss’ New York residence. The artist is currently based in Switzerland and New York.
Castello’s Career
The sculptures by the artist, such as The Kiss and the acclaimed Cube-Painting-Sculpture, are well known (released in 2016). Several buildings that are influenced by cubes are among his other projects.
Around 20 pieces of art are currently up for sale at Castello, according to Artnet. Along with prints and installations, there are nine sculptures and six paintings.
While some of his paintings and sculptures can only be found at auction, others can be purchased for astronomically high prices. Meanwhile, the cost of his prints is between $20,000 and $30,000.
Also Read: Family Life and Hefty Net Worth Of Bumper Robinson
