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Digital Art Galleries: How Artwork is Transitioning to the Digital Age

January 28, 2022
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More than 55,000 art museums exist in our world. 

Several of the most well-known art museums include The Louvre in Paris, The MoMA in NYC, and the Tate Modern in London. It would be foolish to say that there's no longer value in visiting these exquisite spaces of timeless fine art. 

However, it's important to highlight the rise of digital art galleries and NFTs. The world operates online, and the art market is doing its part to establish its presence in a digital realm comprised of virtual interactions and transactions. 

Art is changing and will continue to change. We'll discuss this in greater depth below. 

Museums Are Here to Stay

The conversation of the rise of the digital art gallery often puts art connoisseurs up in arms. Many of them scoff at the idea of virtually exploring collections, even more so at the creation of NFTs. 

There's no need to be upset because museums are here to stay. The Louvre will continue to attract thousands of visitors per week. Nothing can replace the feeling of standing in front of your favorite Renaissance painting or modern sculpture. 

In fact, it would be too conpicstee to figure out where to place the Earth's collection of tangible, hardcopy art if not in a museum. Why prohibit individuals from roaming the halls of iconic galleries?

The Future of Local Galleries

While there's no need to worry about the disappearance of large museums, we can see changes within smaller, localized art markets. 

Many gallery owners have seen the benefit of focusing a large portion of their operations and art investments on virtual galleries. These benefits became even clearer during the worldwide pandemic. 

Sadly, many owners of small galleries were to close their doors during lockdowns. Some have been able to open once again, while others weren't so lucky. 

Artists who run their own galleries have also started exploring the world of digital art through the creation of NFTs and virtual gallery spaces.

The Rise of NFTs

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are all the hype right now. Without getting too deep into the world of crypto, we'll explain what they are and why they're becoming valuable. 

What's an NFT?

A non-fungible token is a one-of-a-kind piece of original online art.  This form of digital art stems from the Ethereum blockchain and is sold through blockchain transactions. 

It's also worth mentioning that cryptocurrencies other than Ethereum are creating their own versions of NFTs. 

When an artist creates an NFT, they're able to maintain copyright and reproductions rights of the work. Whoever buys the art gains the owner's rights to the work. 

You might be asking, "What kind of art can an NFT be?"

Well, NFTs can include:

  • virtual paintings
  • songs
  • poems
  • videos
  • virtual sketches

In fact, the creator of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, sold his first tweet as an NFT for over $2.9 million

What's the Hype?

The hype is in the eye of the beholder, right? 

Not everyone is sold on the excitement surrounding NFTs, However, we must admit there are some interesting things happening. Artists and NFT platforms are even creating interactive art NFTs.

Some people are skeptical about the creation of NFTs because, well, anyone could download an image file or screenshot the image of an NFT. But those people wouldn't have the sole original work. 

Many people are also worried about the environmental impact of the rise of NFTs. Just like buying and selling cryptocurrency, NFT transactions take a whole lot of computing power and electricity. 

A handful of artists have even canceled NFT collection launches due to people's dissatisfaction with the environmental effects. However, some artists, such as Beeple, are pledging to compensate for creating NFTs by donating to conservation projects. 

There are plenty of online resources to explore that explain NFTs and the climate controversy, such as this article.  

Global Connection Through Art

Whether you're exploring NFTs or clicking through a digital art gallery, you're connecting with someone else in another part of the world. They could be down the street or across the globe. 

This worldwide connection has allowed at-home observers to discover emerging artists and genres of art outside of their typical liking. At the same time, artists have reached audiences they never expected. 

Growing Accessibility

Looking more specifically at the benefits of online global connection, the art market has seen an increase of accessibility. More people than ever are able to enjoy their favorite artists through desktops, laptops, and smartphones. 

Because large, well-known museums are often located in faraway and highly-priced cities, not many people are able to visit their favorite Picasso or Renoir paintings in person. 

Not to mention, most of these cities make transportation difficult for those with mobility issues. The museum itself may have wheelchair ramps and elevators, but finding wide-open sidewalks and wheelchair-friendly city transit is difficult. 

Art lovers no longer need to take off work and purchase plane tickets to visit their favorite classic collections or iconic urban art sites. You can see much of this online, including a virtual tour of the Vatican!

Greater Inclusion

In addition to accessibility, artists and art lovers alike now have greater chances of inclusion within virtual art spaces. 

Many artists can remember their first sigh of relief as they discovered art communities and niches that adored their work. Now that artists can upload online art, they can find people in every corner of the globe that enjoy and cherish  their work.

For viewers who feel a bit out of place in their physical surroundings, finding online galleries and communities is liberating. Being able to connect with other fans allows them to be seen and heard. 

Virtual art experiences aren't confined to clicking through uploaded gallery images. They include live chat rooms, live stream artist lectures and discussions, and virtual auctions. 

The Boundaries of Creation Are Stretching

Bound by the availability of hard materials, past art primarily consisted of painting, sculptures, clay vessels, and drawings. Photography wasn't even invented until 1826

Since the creation of photography, we've seen an emergence of photographic memories and moving pictures. When the computer and the World Wide Web were invented, the boundaries of artistic creation reached even further. 

Many artists and critics are thrilled with the expanding meaning of art. Some are even more delighted to watch the entangling between traditional art techniques and modern technology. 

Virtual Reality Art 

One interesting way technology and art are joining hands is through the rise of Virtual Reality. Many of us have seen commercials and demonstrations of people wearing large headsets, almost like something you'd see in a futuristic science fiction movie. 

While it may look ridiculous from the outside, the individual wearing the headset has been fully immersed in a whole other world. They might be walking through a foreign city, swimming through the ocean, or hiking through a forest all from the comfort of their living room.

If we can immerse ourselves in a faraway location through a VR headset, why can't we immerse ourselves in an art piece? Well, we can. 

Many artists and individual art institutions are utilizing the power of Virtual Reality to bring visitors into the paintings and artworks. This is done through the magic of 3D virtual renderings. 

Imagine the virtual capabilities we'll have 20 years from now.

Artists Are Enjoying the Independence

Before the rise of digital art spaces, artists often relied on galleries to sell their work. Galleries are great spaces for artist exposure, but they often take a commission from each piece sold. 

These days, many artists are selling their work through personal artist websites, digital art collectives, and social media. The artist may either sell what they have created or work based on commissions. 

Being able to grow within an independent digital space allows an artist to make a name for themselves, separate from well-known galleries and institutions. 

However, it's important to note that creating a name for yourself on social media is difficult. Platforms such as Instagram and Facebook are available to everyone and can become heavily saturated with emerging artists.  

Getting Involved

Reading this article should have you excited about the possibilities of the virtual art space. Are you wanting to get involved in the world of NFTs and digital art galleries?

Becoming Involved as an Artist

As we mentioned above, artists enjoy the independence and room for growth available to them through the digital space. However, relying on your own resources without help can hinder your upwards trajectory as an artist.

Find a collective or digital gallery that works for you and with you. If you're an NFT artist, it's important to sell through a gallery that understands the crypto and non-crypto market. 

Ask online gallery creators about the benefits they offer to their artists. Inquire about the marketing strategies and exclusive features available through their platform. 

To better expand your reach, find a digital gallery that builds valuable partnerships

Becoming Involved as a Collector

When becoming involved as a collector, it's important to first explore what's available to you and the current trends. Get a feel for prices, and develop your personal taste in art. 

Like much of the world, networking is a major key to success. Find an online gallery that is knowledgeable, supports their artists, and communicates well with loyal collectors. 

Building loyal relationships with galleries, whether online or not, can get you sneak peeks into upcoming collections and other exclusive benefits. 

Are you collecting NFTs? Guarantee the gallery you're purchasing from has a solid understanding of crypto blockchains and trading. 

Imagine the Future

None of us can even begin to fathom what virtual possibilities will present themselves in the future. The current opportunities seem surreal enough. 

Between VR headsets and NFTs, we can only hope scientists and artists alike will continue to push forth in developments and discoveries. The mass spread of virtual art is connecting the world in ways we never expected. 

For those interested in NFTs and blockchain technology, it's inevitable the art economy will continue to develop its relationship with crypto. 

Our advice is to start exploring now. Dive headfirst into digital art galleries and online resources regarding crypto and NFTs. 

And who knows? Maybe one day you'll be the proud owner or creator of the world's greatest NFT collection. 

Why Work With TWO TWO?

TWO TWO is an online immersive and interactive art gallery showcasing a large list of talented artists, such as the talented Nick Walker. These artists specialize in urban art and continue to push the envelope in diverse approaches to vision and sound.

The creators of this gallery have made it possible to sell to global crypto communities through advanced technology. All they need is the original digital file from their artists. 

The TWO TWO gallery has perfectly positioned itself to work with artists and collectors, guaranteeing high-quality NFTs and transparent sales techniques. There's no worry of a classic smoke and mirrors game here. 

The Future of Digital Art Galleries and NFTs

When Monet sat in his garden, painting the iconic water lilies, he could have never imagined what the art world has become today. In addition to the classics, viewers can now explore digital art galleries and NFTs. 

Digital art galleries connect art lovers and creators from all corners of the world. NFT and crypto technology is changing the way in which we make, buy, and trade art. Who knows what the future holds for how we consume artistic creation?

Explore the TWO TWO gallery to discover your new favorite digital artist. Learn and grow with us as you create and collect. If you're interested in a sale or artist representation, contact our team today.

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