A look into the possibilities of collecting rare digital art
The rise of the Rare Digital Art movement is transforming the way the world interacts with art, and fast. As this new market continues to grow, many crossing over from the traditional, physical art world still have questions about what they can do with their rare digital art collections. This article explores that and more.
New to Rare Digital Art? Rare digital art is digital art with authenticity, rarity and proof of ownership guaranteed by blockchain technology. Every artist and artwork featured on MakersPlace is verified through a multi-step identity verification process. Start your collection today!
A New Way To Interact With Art
Before getting into Rare Digital Art, it is first necessary to understand what Digital Art is and how it differs from art created and presented in traditional physical mediums. Digital Art is formally defined as “an artistic work or practice that uses digital technology as part of the creative or presentation process.” It is the newest medium of artistic storytelling. Digital art has transformed the way that artists and collectors interact with art, bringing traditional art forms like painting and sculpture to whole new heights.
Despite being a new medium for many artists and art-lovers, digital arts creation and consumption has actually been happening for over five decades. The 1950s set the stage for the evolution of digital art with many artists beginning to experiment with mechanical devices and analogue computers. The 1960s brought more experimentation and innovation in what was then referred to as computer arts. It was during this time that John Whitney, often dubbed the Father of Computer Art, began using mathematical functions to create visual experiences. In the 1970s, the introduction of personal computers opened doors for digital creations artists never deemed possible. The term “digital art” was first used in the early 1980s following the introduction of an automated paint computer program, AARON, which was created and utilized the pioneering digital artist Harold Cohen. The years to follow were filled with an explosion of digital art, with well known creators such as Andy Warhol, experimenting within the new medium.
Today digital art exists in various forms including huge digital installations, video art, gifs, fractal art, 3d art, generative art, and more.
Applying Rarity to Digital Art
Despite the novel opportunities presented by digital art, the traditional art world has been slow to embrace this new medium. In the past, this was because digital art presented online was extremely easy to copy and difficult to authenticate. Today, artists are able to authenticate their artworks through blockchain technology. This means that digital artists can now create original or limited edition digital artworks that are authenticated and protected through blockchain and contain an indelible signature. The ability to define original or finite digital creations means that principles of rarity can finally be applied to digital arts, like it is to physical arts, thus resulting in the birth of the term “rare digital art”.
The Endless Possibilities of Rare Digital Art
Blockchain technology has finally solved the rarity problem for digital artists and collectors alike, and is essentially legitimizing the once misunderstood digital art market for all. Yet educational gaps still exist: Many art enthusiasts struggle with understanding what exactly it is they can do with their digital art. To this we respond, the possibilities are endless! And that is no overstatement.
Enjoy Directly on MakersPlace
MakersPlace collectors and creators can show-off their art collections to our growing community directly on the site. Your collection acts as your own personal digital gallery, which can be curated, organized and categorized exactly to your liking.
Enjoy in VR and Digital Metaverses
Considering that the growth of rare digital arts has happened alongside and as a result of the technological revolution, it is not surprising that many rare digital art enthusiasts are collecting and exhibiting their rare digital artworks directly on the internet. The past few years have brought forth a burst of online galleries and virtual museums, with even traditionally physical art institutions, such as the Art Basel, turning to the virtual world to exhibit their art collections.
A number of these rare digital art spaces are hosted within full-on virtual worlds, such as Cryptovoxels and Decentraland, where users have the freedom to build, buy and display whatever their hearts desire. Many rare digital art collectors use these spaces to curate and display their artworks for other virtual explorers to enjoy. As the world turns to the internet to keep us moving forward during Covid-times, we are likely to see more and more art consumed within digital spaces.
Enjoy In Your Home
Digital Frames
While these newly developed virtual worlds are an exciting development for the technically-inclined art lovers, those who prefer a more traditional viewing experience can still enjoy rare digital art in the physical world. Digital frames, such as those sold by Canvia or Meural, introduce a way to interact with rare digital art in personal spaces such as homes and offices. In the same way that collectors once exhibited a beautiful (yet stagnant) painting, they can now display dynamic, animated rare digital artworks on their wall. Even more exciting is that these innovative frames allow for a carousel of artworks to be displayed. Rare digital art can also be displayed and enjoyed on tablets, computer monitors and televisions.
Prints
Those who crave a truly physical experience with their rare digital art have the option of re-printing and displaying their rare digital art. Once a rare digital artwork is purchased, the owner will have access to the artwork’s high-resolution file, thus enabling them to re-print the artwork for displaying purpose. One important note to keep in mind is that printing of rare digital art is not allowed for commercial purposes of any kind. Obviously many forms of rare digital art, such of animation, can not be printed. However, for the applicable forms of rare digital art, printing is another great way for collectors to exhibit and enjoy their new art purchases.
Re-sell on MakersPlace and Public Exchanges
Besides a love for the arts, many collectors purchase works in hopes of turning a profit on the artworks they purchased. Much like in the physical art world, digital art is viewed as an investment. Collectors can resell artwork in their collections to other collectors directly on MakersPlace, or other NFT marketplaces like OpenSea or Decentraland. Artwork sales on the secondary market also benefit the artist who receive a 10% royalty of each re-sale (forever!)
Hold on and Enjoy the Ride
If flipping art is your thing, you may consider holding on to your artworks rather than selling them right away. More often than not, artworks will accumulate value over time, especially as less-known artists begin establishing themselves and their artworks in the art market. If you love an artwork, hold on to it and watch your investment increase.
Get in Touch
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Thank you for the Digital Art education Aisha.
My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed the article 🙂
Good stuff.. I will share with my friends