The Enigma of Kryptos: Art, Codes, and the Pursuit of Secrets

Mon Dec 01 2025 00:29:29 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Jim Sanborn's iconic sculpture, Kryptos, located at the CIA, continues to mystify code-breakers worldwide as the fourth encrypted message remains unsolved.

Jim Sanborn's sculpture Kryptos, dedicated in 1990, features an encryption that has fascinated code enthusiasts for over three decades. While the first three codes were cracked in quick succession, the fourth has eluded even the top cryptologists. As Sanborn prepares to auction the key to this enduring mystery, interest surges in the story behind Kryptos and its place in modern art and cryptography.

BOSTON (AP) — When Jim Sanborn was commissioned to create a sculpture at CIA headquarters, he sought to embody the world of espionage and codes.

His creation, Kryptos, stands 10 feet tall and features an S-shaped screen of copper that juxtaposes artistic design with cryptography. One side of Kryptos illustrates the alphabet variations needed to decode the four messages engraved on the other side.

“At the time, coding was a niche subject,” Sanborn noted. “I aimed to make it engaging and accessible. Any artist's aspiration is to captivate the viewer's attention.”

Sanborn anticipated the first three codes on the sculpture, known as K1, K2, and K3, would be quickly deciphered—and they were. However, after 35 years, the final code, K4, remains unsolved, creating a mystique that captivates a global audience. For two decades, a dedicated cryptographer has contacted Sanborn weekly attempting to crack K4, prompting the artist to charge for submissions to manage the influx of inquiries.

Now at age 79, with health concerns mounting, Sanborn is auctioning the solution to K4, hoping to designate a new protector of Kryptos who will continue to engage with its fans.

Boston-based RR Auction launched the auction last month, running until November 20, with the top bid reaching $201,841 for the Kryptos archive. “Kryptos has become a worldwide phenomenon since its inception in 1990,” said RR Auction's executive vice president Bobby Livingston. “K4 has perplexed both professional and amateur code-breakers.”

This archive includes everything needed to solve K4, including an alternative text referred to as K5, along with the original coding charts for K1, K2, and K3.

Despite numerous inquiries into the methods used to encode K4, Sanborn is committed to maintaining an air of mystery around it. The journey of Kryptos not only serves as an intriguing art narrative but also embodies deeper questions about encryption, secrecy, and engagement with the public.