Beeple Returns to Christie’s to Sell NFT Sculpture

Cult NFT artist Beeple will be selling a real-life sculpture and corresponding NFT at Christie’s. Bidding starts at $15 million.

Beeple Drops First Physical NFT

Beeple is heading back to Christie’s.

introducing HUMAN ONE pic.twitter.com/eysmH6WkOY

— beeple (@beeple) October 28, 2021

The NFT artist will sell a physical NFT called “HUMAN ONE” at the auction house’s New York location on Nov. 9. The auction will be part of Christie’s 21st Century Evening Sale, featuring alongside artists like Damien Hirst, Banksy, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Bidding for Beeple’s piece is set to start at $15 million.

Beeple, real name Mike Winkelmann, has created a seven-foot tall sculpture depicting a life-sized astronaut dressed in a silver suit. According to a post from Christie’s announcing the release, the artwork is a “blockchain-driven video sculpture.” The Christie’s listing page describes it as a “generative work of art” that will have a physical and digital representation. As with Beeple’s previous NFTs, the token for the artwork will be minted on Ethereum.

Beeple told Christie’s that he would update the piece “fairly regularly” so that it evolves over time. “Really, this is a lifelong project,” he said. “I want to make something that people can continue to come back to and find new meaning in. And the meaning will continue to evolve.”

He also said that it “shares some similarities” with “EVERYDAYS: THE FIRST 5,000 DAYS,” Beeple’s magnum opus that sold for $69.34 million at Christie’s in March. The sale made Beeple the third most valuable living auctioned artist and helped him gain global recognition.

“HUMAN ONE” is Beeple’s first work of art that combines both physical and digital elements. It contextualizes a new era of blockchain-based physical and digital art. Earlier this month, a similar tokenized sculpture by FEWOCiOUS sold for over $2 million at Sotheby’s.

Christie’s has sold NFTs from some of the most valuable NFT projects, including CryptoPunks, Meebits and Bored Ape Yacht Club. Last month, it raised $12 million by auctioning 14 NFTs, including a rare CryptoPunk that sold for $4.3 million.