A week ago, The Sandbox put music in the spotlight with the conclusion of a partnership with Jamiroquai. Today, the French metaverse giant is putting visual art in the spotlight with its partnership with Ikonia that will appeal to soccer fans.
Andrea Pirlo’s mural produced in The Sandbox
On June 2, 2022, The Sandbox announced that it had partnered with non-fungible token (NFT) incubator Ikonia to reproduce the mural of Italian soccer star Andrea Pirlo. The mural, located on Lafayette Street in New York City, will find its place in The Sandbox metaverse.
Indeed, the mural of 15 by 6 meters made by the famous Italian street artist Jorit, has been reproduced identically in The Sandbox thanks to the collaboration of Ikonia and MetaLabs.
This reproduction is offered for sale as a unique NFT. Thus, the piece will be exclusive to its lucky owner. This NFT entitled The Hero NFT will allow its buyer to own the digital rights attached to the street art piece, and to enjoy the ownership rights on the actual painting for one year. In addition, this NFT has been up for auction since June 1, 2022 via the project’s website. Additional collectibles will emerge throughout June 2022.
The Sandbox pushes the boundaries of digital art by offering an unprecedented opportunity for dual ownership: in the physical world and in the metaverse.
The Sandbox’s beautiful tribute to Andrea Pirlo
Andrea Pirlo is a player with an impressive soccer career. He played 116 games for the Italian national team and was notably decisive in Italy’s victory at the 2006 World Cup. In addition, Andrea Pirlo has won two Champions Leagues and 7 national championships in Italy.
Moreover, the legendary player was delighted with the creation of the NFT in his likeness:
“Participating in this project has been so captivating; the mural alone is an incredible feat and a fantastic work of art. To then see it immortalized in the metaverse reinforces the wonder. Giving the buyer a chance to own a piece of art across multiple realities is a rare opportunity, and one that I have never been able to encounter in other projects.”
In addition to the auctions through June 16, fans of the footballer’s first will be able to hope to purchase other NFTs in his likeness. A bonus lottery provides for the sale of the following lots:
- Dinner with Andrea Pirlo (for the buyer of The Hero NFT)
- 15 minute Zoom Call with Andrea Pirlo (one buyer and 4 guests of their choice)
- Personalized video messages (for 15 buyers)
- Handwritten autographs from the footballer (for 32 buyers)
The popularity of sports like soccer attracts players in the NFT and metaverse ecosystem. As such, it is worth remembering that the 2022 World Cup will be sponsored by Algorand and Crypto.com.
