In the fine art market, only a few companies have been able to stay strong and keep growing for many years. One of them is Treasure Investments Corporation (TIC). For almost 40 years, TIC has brought art to collectors, businesses, and charities in ways that no one else has. From large bronze monuments to sculptures made of pure silver and gold, TIC has shown that art can be both a cultural treasure and a valuable investment.
The company’s story is guided by simple but powerful ideas: work as a team, focus on opportunities, create bold projects, and always inspire. These values have shaped TIC’s journey from its early years to its current position as a leader in both art and philanthropy.
The Principles Behind the Vision
Mark Russo says, “At Treasure Investments Corporation, we always reach for the stars.” This belief has been the center of the company for almost four decades. The team sets goals together, works quickly, and looks for opportunities that create the highest value for clients, shareholders, and staff.
TIC is not only about selling art. It is about creating an experience. When people work with TIC, they leave feeling motivated and uplifted. That energy is part of the company’s culture and part of what makes it stand out in the art world.
Speaking to Different Audiences
Art collectors come from many backgrounds. Some are Fortune 500 executives. Others are celebrities or long-time art buyers. TIC has learned how to connect with all of them in a clear and exciting way.
The method is simple. Always present the best product. Share accurate information about the art, the subject, and the artist. Deliver the message with enthusiasm and confidence.
This approach has helped TIC generate hundreds of millions of dollars in art sales. More importantly, it has built trust. People know that when TIC presents art, they will receive both quality and honesty.
A New Step: Casting Masterpieces in Silver and Gold
One of TIC’s most daring projects has been the decision to cast masterpieces in pure silver and pure gold. Each of these works is valued at over 100 million dollars.
This became possible when TIC gained access to original plaster molds made directly from marble masterpieces in some of the most famous museums in the world. For the first time, works by Michelangelo, Bernini, Canova, Giambologna, and others could be recreated in precious metals.
No one had done this before. Creating one-of-a-kind originals in silver and gold introduced a brand new asset class to the art world. These works are not reproductions. Each one is unique and created with the same respect as the original. Collectors now see them not only as art but also as strong investments.
Exclusive Rights and Long-Term Relationships
Gaining the rights to cast Michelangelo’s David in silver, gold, and platinum was a milestone. TIC also secured rights to cast 71 other masterpieces. This achievement was not by chance. It was the result of decades of work and trust.
Mark Russo owned a foundry in Italy in 2004 and had already created more than 1,000 monumental bronze statues, some as tall as 50 feet. Over the years, TIC also became the company that cast more silver and gold sculptures than anyone else in the world. These experiences proved to partners like Marinelli and Casa Buonarroti that TIC could handle the responsibility of working with some of the world’s most important art.
Protecting Legacy and Creating Value
Casting works like the Pietà or the Battle of the Centaurs in pure silver raises an important question. How do you protect the meaning of these works while also presenting them as modern investments?
Mark Russo explains it clearly. Silver is not just a metal. It is the most conductive material, it gives energy, it has healing qualities, and it shines with beauty. Creating posthumous originals in silver respects the original art while also giving it a new life.
This approach connects the past with the present. It honors the Renaissance while offering collectors something rare and meaningful.
The Legacy Sculpture Collection
Besides Renaissance masterpieces, TIC owns the Legacy Sculpture Collection. This includes more than 2,700 original plaster molds from over 200 artists such as Lorenzo and Laran Ghiglieri. The collection covers themes like patriotism, wildlife, and western art.
New works are still being added every day. The creative direction comes from the founder, who works closely with artists to choose subjects, design details, and the right materials. The goal is always to create pieces that inspire people and meet the interests of the art market.
Leading Both Business and Creativity
Running TIC is about more than producing art. It also means managing staff, recruitment, and promotions. Balancing these responsibilities with creative leadership is not easy.
Mark Russo explains that the key is teamwork. Being both an artist and a business leader helps, but having the right people is even more important. TIC’s success comes from a group of people who share the same goals and work together to achieve them. The leader acts as a guide and motivator, but every person on the team contributes to the company’s success.
The Charity Division
One of the most unique parts of TIC is its Charitable Division, which started in 1998. Since then, TIC has been part of more than 100,000 charity auctions and has helped raise tens of millions of dollars for nonprofit organizations across the United States.
The idea came during a gala event. Mark Russo saw a sculpture sell for a large amount of money and realized that donating art could become a model for fundraising. The system is simple. TIC donates a sculpture to a charity auction. The charity sells it, keeps half of the money, and uses it for its cause.
Within nine months of launching the idea, TIC had over 172 employees working on it. Thousands of artworks were donated every month to more than 1,000 events. Today, the model continues to support charities while introducing art to new audiences.
Major Unveilings
TIC’s projects are often revealed in spectacular ways. A well-known example was the unveiling of the pure silver Pietà at the Mirage in Las Vegas. The event featured Steve Forbes and business partner Michael Sheppard.
The sculpture, valued at 172 million dollars, is the largest pure silver sculpture in the world. It is a posthumous original, numbered one of one. Instead of pressure, the unveiling was a moment of excitement and pride. For TIC, these events are celebrations that show what is possible when vision and craftsmanship come together.
Learning from Challenges
The road has not always been smooth. A few years ago, TIC invested millions of dollars in companies that used scanning, robotics, and CNC machines for creating art. The technology was interesting, and the customer base looked promising, but the businesses could not be scaled.
This mistake became an important lesson. Now, TIC makes sure every new idea can grow to very high levels before investing resources. Excitement is still part of the process, but it is balanced with careful planning.
The Future: A New Renaissance
Looking ahead, TIC plans to continue reshaping the art world. Michelangelo’s David in pure silver has already been appraised at more than 1 billion dollars and is being called the eighth wonder of the modern art world. The Pietà in pure gold is next. It will weigh 37,000 ounces of gold and will become one of the most valuable works of art ever created.
Through TIC and Museo Michelangelo, the company wants to make these creations part of a larger movement. Collectors will still be able to own unique originals, but there will also be opportunities for fractional ownership. This means more people will be able to invest in fine art.
The goal is not only to protect cultural treasures but also to create a new way for art and investment to come together. By bringing back the spirit of the Renaissance, TIC is opening a future where art can inspire, heal, and build value for generations to come.
Meet Mark Russo
Mark Russo, Founder of Treasure Investments Corporation and Foundry Michelangelo, has spent nearly four decades transforming the fine art market. Over the years, he has generated more than $1 billion in fine art sales, working with Fortune 500 CEOs, museums, and private collectors.
Today, Russo owns one of the largest and most remarkable private art collections in the world, with over 4,000 masterworks valued at more than $9 billion. He has pioneered unique ventures such as casting Michelangelo’s masterpieces in silver and solid gold, while also building TIC’s Charitable Division into a philanthropy-investment model.
A multibillionaire, Russo has left a lasting mark on the art world and is now making history by reviving Renaissance precious metal collections.
“We provide high-end limited-edition bronze sculptures for charity fundraising events.”
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