From record-breaking auctions to trendy profile pictures, NFT art is taking the online world—and the art market—by storm. But what are the qualities that make NFT art good? Read on to explore four key tips for artists to take their NFTs to the next level.
1. Curate the entire experience.
The best NFT artists don’t just set out to make JPEG masterpieces. They creatively shape the entire NFT collection and ownership experience.
Celebrity painter Damien Hirst’s NFT art project is a prime example. The Currency is a collection of 10,000 NFTs that each correspond to a physical artwork. Collectors must choose between the digital NFT art or the physical artwork; when they pick one, the other is destroyed.
The intrigue surrounding Hirst’s NFT art lies mostly in the originality of the collection experience, which is interactive and high-stakes.
2. Make it multi-sensory.
Immersive art experiences are getting more popular and more ambitious by the day. NFT art can take a static concept to the next level by turning familiar physical properties into a multi-sensory digital experience.
The key is to provoke the senses. XCOPY’s Afterburn is a famous limited-edition NFT art series, each an animated variation of a deceptively simple concept. Aesthetic elements like color, texture, line, and shape—which don’t always demand individual attention in physical form—become dynamic focal points when brought to life with animation.
3. Embrace blockchain technology.
Technologies like artificial intelligence, data visualization, and virtual reality represent the next frontier for computer programmers and artists alike. By creatively using code, NFT art can (and should!) explore the endless potential and peculiarities of blockchain technology.
For instance, a Mutant Ape by the Bored Ape Yacht Club cannot be purchased like most NFT art. Instead, an existing Bored Ape NFT must be exposed to a “vial” of Mutant Serum—itself sold as an NFT—to transform the original into a Mutant Ape NFT on the blockchain.
The Bored Ape Yacht Club became famous for inventing an iconic viral image. But it is their ongoing, innovative use of blockchain technology that keeps this NFT art concept culturally relevant.
Artists such as Canadian software artist Sarah Friend are unlocking new possibilities in art using blockchain technology. She created a series of “Lifeforms” art, NFT artworks that evolve over time. If they are not given away within 90 days of receiving it, a lifeform will die and no longer appear in wallets.
4. Challenge tradition.
In the 1960s, Andy Warhol upended the fine art establishment by elevating pop culture and mass production. Today, the best NFT art on the market dares to radically redefine art in the digital age.
Beeple demonstrated the revolutionary notion that “good art” does not necessarily have to involve the creation or sale of a physical object. For 13 years, the now-world-famous NFT artist created a new image every day to share on social media. He amassed an online following and eventually compiled 5000 images into a digital collage.
Though each image in Beeple’s collage is freely downloadable online, the NFT of EVERYDAYS: THE FIRST 5000 DAYS sold for nearly $70 million at an historic Christie’s auction in 2021.
NFT art is more than just a trend—it’s an unparalleled opportunity for all kinds of artists, whether they’re digital natives or computer novices.
With NFTs and blockchain technology, artists can push their creative boundaries and connect with new audiences. NFT art can also give collectors more opportunities to enter the art market, which is traditionally exclusive and expensive.
Just think of the internet as an endless art gallery with global reach. And think of NFTs as a new art form—one that’s at virtually everyone’s fingertips.
Contact us if you need advice on launching your NFT collection.
