Italian Artist Sells Invisible Sculpture for $18,300: What’s the Deal?

In 2021, Italian artist Salvatore Garau made headlines when he sold an invisible sculpture titled 'Io Sono' (which means “I Am”) for €15,000—around $18,300. What makes this piece so unusual? There’s nothing to see. The sculpture is completely invisible.

Despite appearing to be “nothing,” Garau insists that 'Io Sono' is a real artwork. The buyer received a certificate of authenticity and instructions to display the sculpture in a 5x5 foot space, free of any objects. According to the artist, the piece exists as a “concentration of energy” and a “philosophical space” that can be felt, even if not seen. He refers to scientific principles like the Heisenberg uncertainty principle to support his idea that even empty space contains energy.

Garau says the artwork is about imagination. “You don’t see it, but it exists,” he explains. “It is made of air and spirit.” He believes the value of the sculpture comes from the ideas and emotions it creates in the viewer—not from any physical material.

This isn’t the first time Garau has created invisible art. He has shown other similar works in Milan, New York, and Jerusalem, often marking their locations with simple white circles or tape. In each case, the “sculpture” is invisible, and the viewer is invited to imagine its presence.

The concept has sparked debate. Some people see it as a bold and creative take on modern art. Others think it’s just a fancy way of selling nothing. But whether you find it brilliant or bizarre, Garau’s invisible art has certainly started a conversation about what art really is—and what it can be.