The Golden David

Conceptual artist Serkan Özkaya made David (inspired by Michelangelo), a double-size, golden replica of Michelangelo’s David, for the 9th International Istanbul Biennial in 2005. Days prior to the opening of the Biennial, the sculpture collapsed shortly after installation. After the collapse, the artist restored the damaged replica and cast two additional copies, one of which was acquired by 21c Museum in 2010. In 2011, 21c commissioned the 30-foot-tall sculpture’s journey from Istanbul to Louisville, stopping first in the entry port of New York City. In New York, Özkaya’s sculpture was driven through the streets of Manhattan before parking overnight at the Storefront for Art and Architecture, where 21c Museum hosted a panel discussion about the use of doubles in art with a group of art critics and architectural theorists. Hundreds of publications, news stations, and blogs covered the story of David (inspired by Michelangelo)’s travels in Manhattan, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Examiner.com, Reuters TV, Getty Images, and others.