Sergio Furnari, an Italian-born New York sculptor, says he spent about $100,000 of his own money on a life-size statue of Charlie Kirk but has not found a buyer. The seated work shows Kirk clutching a microphone and wearing a "FREEDOM" shirt; Furnari says most costs were steel, resin and labor. Instead of offers, he says he’s received hostile messages from people saying they would urinate on the statue and that his finances are now strained. Authorities have charged 23-year-old Tyler Robinson in Kirk’s killing; he has not entered a plea.
Sculptor Says $100,000 Life-Size Charlie Kirk Statue Has No Buyers — He’s Received Hostile Messages
An Italian-born New York sculptor says he spent roughly $100,000 of his own money building a life-sized statue of late conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, but so far has found no buyers — only hostile messages from people saying they would like to urinate on the figure.
Sergio Furnari told The Guardian that he invested about $100,000 in materials and labor to create the seated sculpture, which depicts Kirk holding a microphone and wearing a shirt printed with the word "FREEDOM." Furnari said most costs went toward steel, resin and paying craftsmen.
While finishing the piece in his studio, Furnari said he suffered additional setbacks, including breaking his foot after tripping over a roll of tape. He had expected a wealthy patron or political donor might purchase the work, but no offers arrived.
"I was thinking that it was going to resonate with the world, with whoever, but man, people are strange out there," Furnari told The Guardian. He added that instead of financial support he has been inundated with messages from people saying they want to urinate on the statue.
Furnari also said he never liked Kirk and disagreed with some of his public statements, citing Kirk's comments about Palestine as an example. Still, Furnari described the project’s financial toll as an "absolute nightmare," saying he exhausted his own savings on the sculpture.
Authorities have charged 23-year-old Tyler Robinson with the assassination of Charlie Kirk, who was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University in September 2025; Robinson has not yet entered a plea.
Context: The story has drawn attention because it intersects art, politics and public reaction to a high-profile killing, highlighting both the practical risks artists face when tackling politically charged subjects and the polarized responses such work can provoke.
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