By Madeleine Marr and Jane Wooldridge
Prediction for Art Week 2021: clear skies with a virtual storm of NFTs. In normal language, that means artists from Miami — including Carlos Betancourt and Krave, aka Daniel Fila — and far beyond will be “dropping” (releasing) their latest digital artworks at events citywide. Yes, digital. NFT stands for “non-fungible token,” meaning it is verified as a unique or limited-edition artwork with blockchain authentication.
Though previously collected mostly by cryptocurrency insiders, NFTs have gone mainstream. Like other types of art, some are now highly prized. (We do mean highly: Earlier this year, an NFT by Beeple brought $69 million at a Christie’s auction.) Like other art forms, NFTs can be unique or can be minted in limited editions. As with photography and lithographs, the smaller the number of “editions” available, the higher the price. While most people think of NFTs as animations, static works are also offered.
Whether NFTs have lasting value or become 2021’s pop-culture phenom (remember the $120,000 banana?) is an open question. You can decide for yourself by checking out the many NFT exhibitions and seminars piling up on the Art Week calendar.
Curator Culture
Want to up your NFT knowledge before the games begin? Mike Winkelmann, better known as Beeple, will talk shop. The South Carolina graphic designer (who recently appeared on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon) is joined by painter Peter Saul, one of the fathers of American Pop, and renowned collector Adam Lindemann to discuss “provocation and creativity in the shape-shifting world of contemporary art.”
11 a.m. to noon. Dec. 1 at The Bass, 2100 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-673-7530 or thebass.org; RSVP mandatory.