Key points
- Unique foam sculpture, listed for sale at $100,000 .
If there are several buyers: the work is physically cut out .
Up to 1000 possible buyers → each receives a piece.
Variable price: from $100,000 (1 buyer) to $100 (1000 buyers) .
Have you always dreamed of buying a $100,000 piece of art? Or maybe… just a crumb? The MSCHF (pronounced "mischief") collective returns in 2025 with a new project that once again pushes the boundaries of art, commerce, and the absurd: King Solomon's Baby .
A baby, a saw, a thousand pieces
The work in question? A unique sculpture, a sort of "royal baby" carved from foam. The asking price: $100,000. But—biblical plot twist—that price is only valid if a single buyer comes forward. Two people raise their hands? The sculpture is cut in half. Three buyers? Three pieces. And so on, up to 1,000. Literally.
And here we understand that MSCHF isn't just about art, but also about powerful metaphor. The title King Solomon's Baby refers to the story of King Solomon, the one who proposed cutting a baby in two to settle the dispute between two mothers. Except that here, it's the opposite: the more of you want the baby, the more it will actually be cut. A live aesthetic massacre.
A work with variable geometry (and sliding price)
From a wallet perspective, the concept is just as teasing. For two, each pays $50,000. For ten? $10,000. For one hundred? $1,000. For a thousand? A symbolic 100 dollars. A clear price scale and sharp humor: the more you share, the less you pay—but the more the work loses its... shape? its value? its meaning? Or maybe it gains some, who knows.
Is it still a sculpture if it fits in a plastic bag? Is it still art if you only own a square centimeter of foam? And above all, what is more valuable: the possession of a fragment, or participation in an idea?
MSCHF, the punks of artistic speculation
MSCHF doesn't follow the usual codes of the art scene. Their portfolio is more like a collection of conceptual performances on the border between design, social critique, and a flashy statement. They are notably responsible for the Jesus Shoes (Nike shoes filled with holy water), the Birkinstocks (sandals made from cut-up Hermès Birkin bags), and even deliberately absurd objects sold as works of art. With each project, they question with humor and provocation our relationship to value, rarity... and what we are willing to buy.
With King Solomon's Baby , they hit the nail on the head once again: a critique of the commodification of art, a scathing parody of "cultural co-ownership," and a call to arms to all those who want to "own" art... even if it's just to get a bite.
Verdict: Should you buy a piece of the baby?
Is it a good deal? Not really. Is it an experience? Definitely. And if you have $100, this might be your best chance to say, truthfully: I bought a $100,000 piece of art . Even if it's just a patch of foam that looks like a knee. Or a belly button. Or a piece of cloud.
FAQ
What does the King Solomon's Baby sculpture represent?
It's a stylized baby sculpted from foam. The title refers to the biblical story of King Solomon.
Is the cutout real?
Yes. If the work is sold to multiple buyers, it is literally cut into as many pieces.
What do you get if you buy a piece?
A physical fraction of the sculpture (e.g. a piece of foam), with a certificate.
Can we put the pieces back together afterwards?
Theoretically, yes… if the other 999 buyers agree.
Is this a criticism of the art market?
MSCHF does not lecture, but asks playful and disturbing questions about value, ownership, and the art object.
Can I exhibit my piece?
Sure, but don't expect to be recognized at a fair. Unless you put it all back together.
Why a baby?
This is a direct reference to the story of Solomon. The idea of a precious object whose sharing results in physical destruction.
Nicolas Sarazin