Art Blocks is a popular digital platform for generative art, built on the Ethereum blockchain. The Art Blocks factory allows artists to create, sell, and store generative art, which is unique and impossible to replicate because it is created using an algorithm. The platform is one of the most well-known brands in the NFT space, and many valuable NFT artworks have been launched on Art Blocks.
The popularity of the platform has contributed to the growth of NFTs, and it has become a focal point of discussion among NFT experts. Art Blocks has spawned more than $403 million worth of trading volume so far in August 2023.
Art Blocks offers a wide range of different drops by varying artists, including flat images and interactive 3D compositions. Each final, one-of-a-kind image is generated on the Ethereum blockchain using a unique hash string or “seed” provided by the token, resulting in a different image every time. This makes Art Blocks NFTs completely unique, and collectors can be sure that any piece they buy from Art Blocks is one of a kind.
While generative art has been around for a long time, it wasn't until the advent of NFTs that an actual market for it was enabled. With that came a massive opportunity for generative artists and collectors, and Art Blocks was the first platform to see and facilitate this. Art Blocks has become a leading platform for generative art, and new innovative projects are added every week.
All NFT lovers can thank Art Blocks for becoming a popular platform for generative art on the Ethereum blockchain and helping expand the utility of NFTs, in this case in the field of art collection. The unique and impossible-to-replicate nature of generative art has contributed to the growth of NFTs and has put Art Blocks in the center of the scene. With its wide range of different drops and affordable prices, Art Blocks is a great place to begin your journey as a digital art collector.
Art Blocks NFT creative project and its collections
The code that generates the Artwork NFTs can make hundreds of unique pieces of art that belong to the same project but none of them look the same. Art Blocks was the first platform to facilitate a market for generative art thanks to NFTs. The platform has three tiers: Curated NFTs, Artist Playground, and Art Blocks Factory.
Curated NFTs are the top tier, and artists selected here can create NFT drops that could become part of the official Art Blocks collection. The curated NFTs are considerably inexpensive for the minting and have multiplied in value by thousands. Examples of curated NFT drops on Art Blocks include the Chromie Squiggle collection which used minted token seeds to allocate traits such as gradient changes and segments, the Fidenza collection which emphasizes developing random patterns, and the Ringers series by Cherniak which utilize different methods for wrapping a string around a collection of pegs.
The second tier is the Artist Playground, where artists can develop their own series and try out experimental ideas. The projects in the Artist Playground are not included in the official Art Blocks collection, but they serve as a promising platform for artists to showcase their work. Interesting ideas on the Artist Playground include the Alien Clock series with 362 NFTs and the Beatboxes that create different VR rooms with audio-visual elements.
The final tier in the Art Blocks project is the Art Blocks Factory, which allows any artist to launch their code without having to wait to be accepted in the curated tier. The Factory NFT drops introduce spontaneity and playfulness into the scope of generative art, with a less refined approach. The Dino Pals series by Hideo is a perfect example of a Factory NFT drop, featuring 100 NFTs with simple drawings of prehistoric dinosaurs with unique traits.
Art Blocks has collections based on the quality and innovation of the projects, which remained in place for two years before receiving an update as part of Art Blocks 2.0. Each project is placed in one of the following collections: Curated, Presents, Collaborations, or Explorations. Only the Curated Collection existed from the beginning, and projects in this collection are hand-picked by Art Blocks’ own curation board.
Who created the Art Block NFT project?
The Art Block NFT project has been making waves in the NFT world, and its founder and CEO Erick “Snowfro” Calderon has been vocal about the importance of creator royalties. He believes that declining royalties are harming artists' ability to make a living from digital art, which is why he is committed to supporting artists' practices. Calderon pointed out that many artists have quit their jobs to become full-time artists because they were excited about the prospect of pursuing this career path.
While the launch of the Art Block NFT marketplace coincided with the NFT market's pull-away from creator royalties, it wasn't the primary reason for its launch. Art Blocks CTO Jake Rockland explained that the launch timing was coincidental and was mainly about managing team resources and finding the right tech to create a native marketplace that aggregates listings. The marketplace is built on OpenSea's open-source Seaport protocol, and aggregation is facilitated by Reservoir.
Despite the timing, the ArtBlock NFT project has been incredibly successful, with many artists and collectors flocking to the marketplace. The project's commitment to supporting artists' practices and ensuring fair compensation for creators has resonated with many in the NFT community, and it's clear that this project will continue to make waves in the digital art world.
The most important Block Art NFT projects from the Curated Collection
Art Blocks has a curated collection of projects that have gained significant attention from art collectors and NFT enthusiasts. Here are some of the most iconic projects from the curated collection:
Chromie Squiggle by Snowfro is a series of 10,000 squiggles that embody the essence of the Blocks Art platform. Each squiggle is unique and serves as the artist's personal signature. The project has gained popularity due to its simplicity and easy identification.
Ringers by Dmitri Cherniak is a series of 10,000 images generated by an algorithm that wraps a string around a set of pegs. The algorithm produces a variety of combinations that surprise and delight its viewers. Each output is derived from a unique transaction hash and generated in Javascript in the browser. The project offers variations in peg count, sizing, layout, wrap orientation, and colourful flourishes.
Fidenza by Tyler Hobbs is a versatile algorithm that creates structured curves and blocks using variations in scale, organization, texture, and colour usage. The project offers a wide range of generative possibilities that make it a favourite among collectors. Fidenza's versatility is what sets it apart from other projects in the curated collection.
Archetype by Kjetil Golid explores the use of repetition to create complex yet satisfying expressions. The project uses repetition as a counterweight to unruly random structures. Every single component of the project looks chaotic alone, but the repetition brings a sense of intentionality to the overall image.
Gazers by Matt Kane is a lunar calendar that algorithmically syncs with Moon phases in the sky. The project seeks to create a community of collectors celebrating the change of perceptions that happen over time. Gazers also celebrates humanity's love of colour theory, astronomy, and generative Block Art.
Edifice by Ben Kovach is a series of 976 massive, deteriorating structures built on strange terrain. The project explores buildings being conceptualized, constructed, and eroded away under various conditions. Edifice's outputs run the gamut between minimal and maximal, with some showing few large, static blocks of color, and others many small, highly textured and warped shapes. Each image is progressively constructed in front of the viewer's eyes.
What was the most expensive Artblocks NFT ever sold?
An Art Blocks NFT has made it to the headlines for becoming the most expensive NFT ever sold from the project. The Ringers #109 NFT was sold for 2100 ETH, which equates to around $7 million at the current market price of Ethereum. The sale has surpassed the previous record of the most expensive Art Blocks NFT, which was Ringer #879 sold in August. Ringer #109 is now the most expensive NFT ever sold on Art Blocks.
The NFT was sold on OpenSea, and the seller was revealed to be AKIRA, co-founder of NarcissusGLRY, who had bought the NFT for $230 in March. With the sale, AKIRA made an impressive return of 3.2 million per cent in just six months. The sale has also brought attention to the growing trend of curated Art Blocks projects being promoted by various NFT marketplaces, including famous auction house Christie’s, who recently added them to their Post War to present auction.
Ringers NFT project is part of the Curated Art BLOCKS, and Ringer #109 is a normal-sized NFT with 11 traits. The NFT has a unique red colour trait that is only found in 0.31% of Ringers NFTs. It also has rare traits like balanced wrap orientation and the Loop wrap style. The sale of Ringer #109 has shown the potential for significant returns on Art Blocks NFT investments, and it will be interesting to see how this market continues to evolve in the future.