The world’s most expensive living artist, Jeff Koons, made history after the Odysseus spacecraft landed Thursday, becoming the first artist to officially show a work on the moon while offering matching NFTs of the artwork.
“Cultivating connections between the digital and physical worlds”
Powered by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, space exploration company Intuitive Machines, and NASA, the successful Thursday landing of spacecraft Odysseus marks the first mission to land on the moon in more than half a century. To commemorate the launch, Koons designed a multi-component sculpture focusing on “the moon as a symbol of human curiosity and the desire to achieve,” according to a statement on the project’s website.
Just a few hours away from the 1AM EST launch on February 14th of my artwork Moon Phases on Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission. The images show the Nova-C lunar lander encapsulated on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. I’m honored to have the first authorized artwork on the moon. pic.twitter.com/RpuSjbr7de
— Jeff Koons (@JeffKoons) February 13, 2024
Entitled Jeff Koons: Moon phasesthe artist’s latest work consists of three parts: 125 miniature moon sculptures that are “installed on the moon forever,” 125 larger mirror-reflective stainless steel sculptures of the moon that will remain on Earth, as well as accompanying NFTs that encapsulate both components.
“Each unique NFT is linked to a sculpture that will reside on the moon within the cube and a sculpture that will reside on Earth, cultivating connections between the digital and physical worlds,” according to the project’s website. “The NFT itself will contain an image of the sculptures installed on the lunar surface, as well as other images. Together with the other two components of Moon phasesthe NFT will bear Jeff Koons’ iconic signature.”
Inspiring future generations through past achievements
In collaboration with women-owned space company 4Space, each piece is named after “people who have achieved feats throughout human history,” including Albert Einstein, Susan B. Anthony, Michelangelo and more.
“These and other names will be displayed individually at the door Moon phases, commemorating the figures on the occasion of the moon mission,” according to the project’s website. “In this way, Koons honors some of the greatest achievements of the past to inspire future generations.”
An otherworldly work of art
Koons’ NFTs, released through Pace Gallery’s virtual art platform Pace Verso, allow art lovers, space enthusiasts and NFT collectors to own a piece of history.
“The sculptures left on Earth will contain a precious stone, either a white diamond, yellow diamond, blue sapphire, green emerald or red ruby,” according to the project’s website. “The position of the stone on the sculptures will indicate the location of the lunar landing site, which will become a lunar heritage site where the associated lunar sculptures will be permanently installed.”
The world of high art often has ties to Web3 – just this week, auction house Sotheby’s made headlines with the sale of Ether Rock, “an early NFT collectible.”
However, Moon Phases appears to be Koons’ first foray into the NFT space.
“I am so honored that “Moon Phases” is the first authorized work of art to be placed on the moon,” reads a recent Instagram caption from the famous artist.
More information about the project can be found at jeffkoonsmoonphases.com.