About the artwork
One Dollar to Rob a Bank was created in 2022 by French artist Karl Lagasse. The piece is part of a limited edition of 44, here numbered 3/44, and measures approximately 34 × 15 cm. The work features the emblematic iconography of the U.S. dollar bill, reproduced here in a glossy metallic red finish that accentuates its visual and symbolic character. On the surface of the object appears a white pictorial gesture reminiscent of a graffiti tag, inscribing the word "TORIA" in a spontaneous, energetic style. The piece is conceived as a sculptural object evoking a crumpled or corrugated banknote, creating an impression of movement and giving the support a three-dimensional dimension.
Expert opinion
This work is part of Karl Lagasse's emblematic series devoted to the dollar motif, which has become a central signature of his artistic practice. Through these sculptures inspired by American currency, the artist questions the notions of value, power and desire associated with money in contemporary society. The transformation of the banknote into an artistic object, often deformed or marked by pictorial interventions, introduces a critical distance from the economic symbolism of the dollar. In One Dollar to Rob a Bank, the addition of the graffiti gesture reinforces the tension between urban culture, monetary iconography and pop culture. Karl Lagasse's limited editions are sought-after on the contemporary art market because they embody an accessible and visually powerful reflection on the relationship between art and value. This piece is a representative example of how the artist transforms a universal symbol of wealth into a meaningful artistic object.
About the artist
Born in Paris in 1981, Karl Lagasse is a renowned French sculptural artist. He began his artistic career in 1995 at the age of fifteen, when he sold his first work in Antwerp. In 2003, he held his first solo show in Paris, exhibiting collages and paintings on the advice of Victor Vasarely's son, whom he had met in 1998. In 2004, he began training as a sculptor, and developed the "Buildings" series of totemic forms made from a variety of materials. He transforms his studio into a workshop, becoming both a place of creation and an exhibition space for other artists (Nasty). In 2006, the Brussels gallery Isy Brachot devoted a solo show to him. Following the international success of his work One Dollar, he created Cryptogram One at Art Monaco in 2011. He also creates collaborative works, such as his 2012 "building" for the Cannes Film Festival, which the public is invited to sign and cover with messages.
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