NFT ARTISTS MAKING STRIDES ACROSS THE GLOBE BY SHALINI PASSI
The most trending art commodity on the block – NFTs has had every head turned. Non – fungible tokens (NFTs) are cryptographic assets on a blockchain with unique identification codes that can be distinguished, offering authenticity. Originally introduced in 2014, NFTs have gained sudden attraction and only seem to be going upward. Investors from across the globe debate whether this newest investing trend is here to stay and revolutionize the investing / art world or just a phase. From 12 year olds selling NFTs worth $6 million dollars to struggling artists finally finding their trajectory, this digital bubble has incontestably taken the art world by storm. After discovering many talented artists from this world, following are the artists making positive strides from across the globe, on my radar:
1) BEEPLE
Mike Winkelmann is the digital name for artist Beeple who has been topping the NFT charts with few historical auctions under his hat. Christie’s, the prestigious auction house, sold the work “The First 5000 Days,”for $69,346,250, making it the first NFT to be ever sold by Christie’s. “The First 5000 Days,” is a collage of all the artworks that the artist has shared on social media since the year of 2007.
2) PAK
This particular artist is widely known for his anonymity, minimalism, work ethic and his popularity amongst celeb-like figures. PAK has certainly gained a fan base over the years, in-turn bagging Sotheby’s for major digital sales, amounting to $16,825,999. The artist’s works are minimalist in nature and usually monochromatic.
“Identity, to me, is similar to shouting “I am here!” I try to do the exact opposite, which creates a social vacuum.”
– PAK
3) HACKATAO
The artist’s name is derived from “hack” and “tao ” where the artist explores socio-economic and the meta world. Hackatao has credibly been listed on NFTs highest selling charts with over 2200 works sold. Hackatao is a duo of Italian artists who have even collaborated with Sotheby’s and NFT Studios.
4) TREVOR JONES
The artist explores the relationship between art and technology. He extends his physical canvas artworks digitally and enhances its composition. The Canadian artist is situated in Scotland and has sold over 5,300 artworks with major collaborations under his wing. His highest selling NFT The Bitcoin Angel , sold for $188,888, comprises two marble sculptures with a bitcoin.
5) REFIK ANADOL
Refik Anadol is a name that needs no introduction. With his Turkish origins and American base he has been one of the frontier names in the digital art space for quite some time now. He has been recognised by several galleries and museums across the globe, including MoMa, bagging an art installation at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The work Machine Hallucinations auctioned for $1.2 million on OpenSea.
Anadol’s work is meditatively dreamy, inspired by machine learning.
6) ALOTTA_MONEY
Alotta Money’s works are particularly interesting as they are composite of Renaissance paintings and contemporary animate subjects making it surrealist in nature. They are socio-political and sometimes very abstract in meaning. He has done many triumphant collaborations, the most popular one was Saint Nakamoto with artist jivinci, which is a digitally animated painting of Satoshi Nakamoto.
7) BLAKE KATHRYN
Blake Kathryn is known for her mystically hypnotic digital works, three dimensional in nature. With her base in Los Angeles, the artist creates works that are vibrant digital dreamscapes, conceptually charged. The works are often futuristic and animated, accompanied by soundscapes. She has gained popularity with pop culture celebs and brands like Adidas, Nike.
8) WhIsBe
Based out of Brooklyn, WhIsBe’s Vandal Gummy series gained series attraction in 2020. The iconic gummy bear is digitized and composed in a prison set-up with the bear holding an identity placecard. The artist aims to shine light upon difficult situations with a sprinkle of humor-play. The Vandal Gummy series was originally introduced in 2013. In the first quarter of 2021, the artist sold one of his works for $1 million, marking the beginning of many more sales.
9) FEWOCiOUS
This eighteen year old teenage millionaire literally has every head turned. He has been listed with Christie’s already. He started making art when he was merely thirteen. He is a pop surrealist, where his works incorporate vivid subjects in an unique manner. The teen artist has sold over $17 million worth NFTs. He also auctioned one of his collections for $2.16 million which was inspired by the artist’s experiences as a young, transgender artist growing up in an abusive household.
10) Vhils
Globally renowned Portuguese street-artist Vhils branched out into the world of NFTs. His art is certainly provocative; from voicing the voiceless to crumbling buildings, the artist’s work is distinguishable. Artist Alexandre Farto goes by the name Vhils and has even had the honor to partner with Sotheby’s. Vhils has a fanbase in the digital and physical world.
Text by Shalini Passi
Image Courtesy: Beepl, Fewocious, Blake Kathryn, WhIsBe, Alotta_Money, Hackatao, PAK, Refik Anadol and Trevor Jones
Find out more about the artists:
https://gothammag.com/top-selling-nft-artists
https://www.trevorjonesart.com
