The Art World Goes Digital: NFTs and the Future of Collecting

Kendall LaVaque
3 min readMay 8, 2023

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Art collecting has long been a passion for many, with wealthy individuals and museums alike spending millions on rare and unique pieces. However, the art world is undergoing a digital transformation with the rise of NFTs (non-fungible tokens).

NFTs are essentially digital certificates of ownership that use blockchain technology to authenticate and verify the ownership of a unique digital asset, such as a piece of artwork. This means that while anyone can view and share the artwork, only the owner of the NFT has the rights to sell or trade it.

A Midjourney Generated Image By Kendall LaVaque

The use of NFTs in the art world has exploded in recent years, with artists and collectors alike embracing the technology. For example, digital artwork by the artist Beeple sold for a staggering $69 million at Christie’s auction house, making it the most expensive NFT ever sold.

But NFTs aren’t just for the wealthy. They also provide a new avenue for emerging artists to reach a wider audience and receive fair compensation for their work. By selling their art as NFTs, artists can receive a percentage of the resale value each time the artwork changes hands.

This is a significant departure from the traditional art world, where artists often receive little to no compensation when their works are resold.

The Increased Accessibility of NFTs

Has democratized the art world, allowing for a more diverse range of artists to enter the market. This has led to a rise in the popularity of digital art, which was previously seen as less valuable than traditional art forms.

However, the rise of NFTs has also raised concerns about their environmental impact, as the energy consumption required to power blockchain networks can be significant. Additionally, there are concerns about the potential for fraud and the lack of regulation in the NFT market.

Despite these challenges, it seems likely that NFTs will continue to play a significant role in the future of art collecting. As the world becomes increasingly digital, it only makes sense that the art world would follow suit. NFTs offer a new way for artists to create, monetize, and share their work, while also providing collectors with a secure way to own and trade unique digital assets.

A Midjourney Generated Image By Kendall LaVaque

Conclusion

The art world is undergoing a digital transformation with the rise of NFTs. While there are challenges to be addressed, NFTs provide a new way for artists and collectors to engage with the art world and could have a significant impact on the future of collecting. The art world of the future will be more inclusive, accessible, and diverse, thanks to the power of NFTs.

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Kendall LaVaque
Kendall LaVaque

Written by Kendall LaVaque

📝 Mini Essayist ✍️The Idea Guy 🔎Armchair Anthropologist

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