The thought-provoking artwork titled “FTX Board Meeting, Day #5676 11.13.2022 (2023)” by digital artist Beeple was generously donated to the museum. This piece defies the boundaries between digital and traditional art, serving as both a distinct NFT and an oil painting. Expressing great admiration for Beeple’s work, Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, the museum director, expressed her profound respect, highlighting its exceptional significance.
Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that the artwork has sparked controversy. The NFT includes an artist’s note that candidly refers to it as a “board-certified clusterfuck.” This is due to the fact that the “FTX Board Meeting” depicts multiple iterations of Sam Bankman-Fried, the face of FTX, engaging in explicit sexual encounters with himself.
As a result of its explicit content, the museum was required to censor the image when sharing it on its YouTube channel. This acquisition comes after the well-received exhibition of Beeple’s “Human One (2021)” at the Castello di Rivoli in 2022. Beeple’s NFT artwork displayed at the Castello di Rivoli serves as a testament to the evolving landscape of digital art and its increasing integration into established art institutions.
