Anime and Antiquity Collide in Daniel Arsham's 'SPLIT BUST' Sculpture

Daniel Arsham has just dropped a new artifact of “fictional archaeology” with his latest sculptural edition SPLIT BUST. Limited to a run of 99, the dual-material sculpture is based on a large-scale work Arsham debuted at last year’s Venice Biennale.

Drawing on his Fractured Idol series, the piece features a half-anime, half-Roman-faced composition, each side adorned with a pondering gaze. Crafted from stainless steel and cast bronze, the sculpture’s Tiffany Green patina enhances its timeworn feel, while its mirror-polished offers a more robotic aesthetic. SPLIT BUST continues Arsham’s exploration of how icons and symbols can transcend time and cultures, creating a space where the past and future seamlessly become one.

Each edition is 30 centimeters in height, weighing in at 8 kilograms. Priced at $12,500 USD, each iteration of “SPLIT BUST” comes complete with a pair of Arsham Studio art handling gloves, alongside a metallic foiled certificate signed and hand numbered by the artist. The sculpture is now available for purchase via Arsham’s official site.