As blockchain technology paved the way for permanently recorded and distributed peer-to-peer transactions without the need for third parties, a rare form of art powered by cryptographic technology, known as crypto art emerged.
Crypto art is digitized art in the form of non-fungible token (NFT) on the Ethereum blockchain.
With the pandemic in the year 2020 closing up physical art galleries, the crypto art industry saw a significant boom reaching an all-time high of $8.2 million in December as profits through various online art galleries like MakersPlace, Async Art, KnownOrigin, SuperRare, and Nifty Gateway.
Here is the list of eight of the most innovative crypto artists that fueled this significant increase.
- Mike Winkelman a.k.a Beeple
A digital artist of 13 years based in South Carolina, Beeple ventured into the NFT world in October 2020 and made history after he sold a collection of 20 of his artwork in an auction on Nifty Gateway for over $3.5 million last year.
- Blake Kathryn
Blake specializes in 3D dreamscapes and animated art and has successfully sold NFTs valued at thousands of dollars. Her biggest sale was worth 11 ETH and her work has attracted the eyes of Adidas, Fendi, The New York Times, Fendi, Jimmy Choos, Smirnoff and Adobe.
- Travis Van Zanen a.k.a Giant Swan
Giant Swan is a 33-year-old Australian virtual reality artist who sculpts surreal dreamscapes. His biggest NTF sale recorded was valued at 15 ETH.
- FEWoCIOUS
FEWoCIOUS is the pseudonym for the 17 year old crypto artist that took the digital world by storm. Their crypto art, “The Moment I Fell in Love” was valued and sold for $25,000 on Nifty Gateway.
- José Delbo
By far the oldest on this list and a Marvel and DC comic book artist, this 87 year old launched into the NFT space in 2020. His biggest sale was a crypto art in collaboration with Trevor Jones which sold at the value of 302.5 ETH ($111,377 at the time).
- Trevor Jones
Trevor is a crypto artist who infuses augmented reality into his paintings. His largest sale, collaboration with EthBoy, was valued at 260 ETH (then $141,000)
- Hackatao
This is a duo of the Italian artists Sergio Scalet and Nadia Squarci famous for Podmorks. Since they began animating their works with digital tools, their biggest sale was valued at 60.85 ETH ($23,989).
- John Orian Young (JOY)
John Orian Young creates JOYs, crypto collectibles. Since launching into the NFT space in 2017, his biggest sale was 32 ETH.
The crypto art world is here to stay due to its developed scarcity and rarity. Artists can finally get proper recognition and remuneration for their work. It may seem that blockchain technology really is the future of art.
