ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Chris Burden's gold bar sculpture gets 24-hour guard at New Museum retrospective

exhibition · 2026-04-20

The New Museum in New York has assigned a dedicated 24-hour security guard to protect Chris Burden's 1985 sculpture Tower of Power during his retrospective exhibition. This artwork, valued at approximately £2.6 million, comprises 100 kilograms of gold ingots arranged in a pyramid inside a vitrine. Surrounding the tower are miniature figures crafted from matchsticks and sewing needles. The Guardian reported on these enhanced security measures for the valuable installation. Burden's retrospective provides the context for displaying this significant piece from his career.

Key facts

  • Chris Burden created Tower of Power in 1985
  • The sculpture contains 100 kilograms of gold ingots
  • The gold is valued at approximately £2.6 million
  • The work is displayed in a pyramid formation within a vitrine
  • Miniature figures made of matchsticks and sewing needles encircle the tower
  • A 24-hour security guard protects the installation
  • The sculpture is part of Burden's retrospective at the New Museum
  • The exhibition takes place in New York

Entities

Artists

  • Chris Burden

Institutions

  • New Museum
  • Guardian

Locations

  • New York
  • United States

Sources