Résumé
Beeple is a world-renowned American graphic designer and digital artist. His NFT was sold in a traditional art house, and he is among the three most sought-after living artists. Many believe that Beeple has proven that art can also be digital and that it doesn't necessarily have to be physical works. Aside from his work being aesthetically impressive to many, various other developments in the NFT space and structural aspects of the market could also play a role in the growth of his popularity.
Introduction
Beeple has attracted a lot of attention to non-fungible tokens (NFTs) through its digital artwork. Therefore, he can be considered an important figure in the adoption of NFTs. Additionally, his creations are a living example of one of the use cases of NFTs, which can inspire other creative professionals to do the same.
Who is Beeple?
Beeple, or Mike Winkelmann of his real name, is an American graphic designer and digital artist. Before becoming famous in NFT art, his work was exhibited in concerts by famous figures such as Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj and Childish Gambino.
His fame did not come from a long career in traditional art galleries or any particular expertise in non-fungible tokens (NFTs). His path to NFTs was more of a sudden experience as more and more people recommended him to try the new way of publishing art. Today, Beeple has over 2 million Instagram followers and is one of the top three most sought-after living artists.
Beeple's NFT art often uses references to politicians, pop-culture icons, and enjoys satirizing current world events and creating interpretations of modern politics and culture. Interestingly, he has found a way to capture the attention of the traditional art sector with his animated art NFTs while also providing a way to express political and social viewpoints in a visual way .
What made Beeple famous?
Beeple began selling NFTs in February 2020. Its early achievements surprised the art and tech worlds, with digital art sales reaching tens of thousands of dollars. One of the first NFTs sold by Beeple is called Crossroad. It was designed to change depending on the outcome of the US presidential elections in November 2020. This blockchain-recorded artwork was sold for US$66,666.66 and then resold for $6.7 million.
Beeple's finest hour came when auction house Christie's announced its auction of his NFT artwork, making it the first major auction house to sell a purely digital NFT artwork . Additionally, this is the first time Christie has accepted ether as a payment method.
The artwork is called Everydays – The First 5000 Days and was sold for over $69 million. It looks like a collection of colored pixels but is actually comprised of 5,000 individual images, which Beeple has created every day for over 13 years.
Beeple's advent may be due to his timing. He entered the NFT space just as it started to gain momentum. Another systemic reason could be the massive socio-economic change in the world (the COVID-19 outbreak). As a result, people began spending more time on digital devices, working from home, and being attracted to new digital applications more easily.
Beeple's sale of the Everydays NFT took place during the NFT explosion. Nonetheless, as with any hype cycle, the wave of NFT craze subsequently subsided.
How Beeple changed the perception of NFTs
Beeple is attracting a lot of attention to digital art through various successful NFT projects. For example, Christie's public announcement about selling digital artwork showed how NFTs could become part of what has been considered a niche culture. It also proved to the general public that art can also be digital and does not need to exist physically. It also raised awareness about the combination of art and blockchain technology and the new possibilities it offers.
Many artists began considering creating NFTs during the pandemic because they allowed them to make a living without physically performing. Additionally, they offer a new way to fulfill their creative quest. Not only small independent artists, but also celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Edward Snowden and Eminem have started releasing NFT projects.
For example, Snoop Dogg announced his first NFT collection titled “A Journey with the Dogg” to show off his early memories in the form of NFT art. Additionally, Canadian musician Grimes created an NFT art collection of 10 pieces that explore futuristic worlds and sold for millions in seconds.
With all the big names entering the space, Beele's work may have been crucial to the mainstream adoption of NFTs. He became one of the highest-earning artists in the world and showed that creators could make money without relying on traditional publishers and media outlets. Furthermore, his early works are only possible in digital form. Finally, he was creating art long before NFTs existed, his move to digital thus demonstrates that the move to this new space was not done out of simple greed, but that he also explores new ways for artists to present their works.
What are the next steps for NFTs?
Beeple became famous around the world thanks to his NFT art. However, the scarcity and uniqueness of NFTs make them a good choice for various other use cases such as gaming, music, and finance. For example, gaming NFTs allow users to prove the authenticity of unique in-game items like guns and land plots. In addition, so-called play-to-earn NFT games allow users to generate income by playing them.
Additionally, as with artwork, it is possible to attach audio to an NFT file to create a collectible piece of music. It is widely known that only a minority of musicians can make a living from their music, and NFTs have the potential to make the music industry's business model more equitable. NFTs could solve this problem with blockchain-based streaming platforms or blockchain royalty tracking.
An NFT can also be used as an entry ticket to concerts and events, creating a secondary market for NFTs based on the access they provide.
Despite the slowdown in exuberance around NFTs and the NFT market in 2022, the NFT space continues to grow and reinvent itself, and we will likely see many new iterations and use cases for NFTs.
In fact, even you can become an NFT creator yourself. If you're already an artist or creator, NFTs can allow you to earn royalties without the need for an agency or manager. Additionally, unlike traditional art galleries, many NFT marketplaces allow everyone to participate. Blockchain technology makes NFTs inclusive. Plus, because NFTs are digital, you can display your creations anywhere in the world. And, like Beeple, maybe you could become famous overnight by exposing your art to the world.
To conclude
Beeple has shown that NFTs are a viable way to distribute and own artwork. In addition to digital art, NFTs offer a way to improve current industries such as gaming, music and finance. The NFT ecosystem will likely witness new projects with unique use cases and approaches to generating value.
