‘It was opportunistic in the best sense’: how the US constitution inspired an exhibition

An istallation image of We the People. ‘We want to create that space for discovery, creativity, engagement.’ Photograph: Photo by Stephen Ironside

They were eight tense minutes that Austen Barron Bailly will not forget in a hurry.

The scene: Sotheby’s auction room in New York. The bidders: Ken Griffin, a billionaire hedge fund manager, versus a group of 17,000 cryptocurrency enthusiasts from around the world. The prize: a rare first printing of the US constitution.