NEW YORK.- Christie’s continues to underpin its position at the forefront of the burgeoning NFT market following the close of an expertly curated online auction today, PROOF OF SOVEREIGNTY, presented in partnership with Lady PheOnix—one of the most respected voices in the new media landscape today. The sale of 19 unique NFTs realized a combined total of USD $1,000,000 with buyers from Asia, Europe and the United States. Christie’s also noted that more than 60% of the bidders were new to the auction house.
The top lot in PROOF OF SOVERNEIGTY was multidisciplinary artist Jose Bellini’s Genesis, which soared in the final minutes of the sale to realize $400,000. Created in 2017, Genesis was Bellini’s first Cryptoart-themed and iconic work that vaulted the artist into becoming a pioneer of fine art in the blockchain landscape. After Genesis went viral online, Bellini devoted her full attention to advancing the adoption and ethos of Ethereum, Bitcoin and the digital art ecosystem. Although there was an open edition print release of Genesis, this unique NFT is the first and only digital representation created by the artist of this work. It is the only authoritative digital version of Genesis that exists or will ever exist.
Digital sculptor Raf Grassetti’s Lady Justice realized $137,500. Grassetti is known as one of the best living digital and tangible sculptors in the world. The artist launched his career as a traditional sculptor and then transitioned to virtual sculpting after discovering the power of immortalizing his subjects in digital stone. He said, “Through the power of digital tools, I’ve carried the legacy of timeless classical sculpture in to the 21st century.”
Other top lots included Ash Thorp’s Degradation ($68,750); Urs Fisher’s CHOAS #17 Pardon ($60,000); and Nam June Paik’s Global Groove (Opening) ($56,250).
Curator Lady PheOnix assembled a broad selection of new media artists, whose collective practice spans more than 30 years—bringing together established and emerging artists working with creative technology and the blockchain. PROOF OF SOVEREIGNTY was at once a celebration of both 20th and 21st century digital art, providing a tantalizing glimpse of the future of art itself. In addition, a majority of the lots come with museum-informed questionnaires, manuals, metadata and archival files, minted with the artwork and deployed under the artists’ own wallets.
All proceeds from Gucci’s first NFT, inspired by a fashion film co-directed by Creative Director Alessandro Michele and award-winning photographer and director Floria Sigismondi, will go to UNICEF USA to support UNICEF’s role in COVAX - an initiative aimed at ensuring global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. Additionally, Jenny Holzer will donate proceeds to charity, supporting NiaTero, an organization that works in solidarity with Indigenous peoples worldwide and Save the Children, a charity that helps to provide children the best chance for the future they deserve.
Noah Davis, Christie’s 21st Century Art Specialist, said, “Christie’s was proud to work in partnership with the digital art community to present this special sale. We recognize that blockchain is changing the way artists make art, and the way every creative industry operates, by democratizing access to information, diminishing opacity in favor of transparency, and empowering creative people everywhere.”
Curator Lady PheOnix said, ”I introduced new standards for creators, collectors, and institutions in the media art landscape and have positioned the artist at the center of the conversation.”
