In a world where memes often live and die within minutes, one has been immortalized in a unique, larger-than-life tribute to none other than Elon Musk. A nine-foot-tall sculpture of Musk, inspired by a poorly drawn portrait that went viral on Reddit six years ago, was spotted driving through Brownsville, Texas, behind a Tesla Cybertruck. This eccentric work of art is the brainchild of Louis XXII, a French technology entrepreneur and co-founder of ElonRWA, a “real world asset meme” token created on Ethereum’s second layer.
But Louis XXII insists that the statue is not a clever marketing gimmick to boost ElonRWA’s value. Rather, it’s about bringing a bit of fun and humor into the real world – proof that memes can escape the digital universe and make big waves out of foam and fiberglass.
Earlier this year, the same creative collective, FeistyDAO, commissioned a mural based on the same viral meme, emblazoned with the phrase “Occupy Mars.” The mural was painted by a local Brownsville artist. Carloby Manuel Guerrerowhich gives the project a touch of hometown flair. FeistyDAO is clearly on a mission to blur the lines between the meme world and reality, one giant sculpture or mural at a time.
The Musk sculpture, built in Utah from foam and fiberglass, arrived on August 15 and received a shiny bronze coat of paint that made it look as serious as an art museum centerpiece. But make no mistake—this project doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s a quirky nod to the kind of internet culture Musk himself frequently interacts with on platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
While some may raise eyebrows at the thought of lugging a giant Musk sculpture around Texas, Louis XXII and FeistyDAO are all about taking the lightheartedness of internet trends and turning them into something physical, fun, and surprisingly artistic. The project also shows the potential for NFT projects to engage with the real world in a way that transcends market fluctuations.
The next time you see a Tesla Cybertruck with a nine-foot Elon Musk Statue in tow, remember – it’s all just a meme… this has gotten completely out of control.
