Conversations I A shifting paradigm: unpacking the rise of digital art

Conversations I A shifting paradigm: unpacking the rise of digital art
In partnership with Nifty Gateway Studio
Art Basel Miami Beach 2024, December 6
Sam Spratt, Artist, New York City
Benny Gross, Collector and General Partner, WCC Fund
Moderator: Tara Harris, Head of Nifty Gateway Studio
This panel examines the paradigm shift happening in contemporary art, as artists embrace digital technology - from AI to blockchain - for creative expression. How does this impact the relationship between artists and collectors? How can artists and institutions leverage this changing landscape to evolve and deepen their relationship with audiences online and offline? Artist Sam Spratt and collector Benny Gross will explore these questions in a conversation moderated by Nifty Gateway Studio’s Tara Harris.
Sam Spratt creates from rupture. His recent body of work, a series of digital paintings titled ‘Luci’, follows the infinite story of pilgrimage and serves as a refracted self-portrait of the artist. Each piece is a confession, a conversation, and a joke at his own expense. Through palingenesis, ‘Luci’ serves as a guide and a warning for the atomized individual exiting dissociation and attempting to connect, grow, and thrive in an escalating network.
Tara Harris is the head of Nifty Gateway Studio (NGS), a digital production studio partnering with leading contemporary creators and brands to develop immersive social entertainment and creative experiences onchain. At NGS, Tara has spearheaded successful partnerships and releases with creators including Sam Spratt, Beeple, Pak, Refik Anadol, and Daniel Arsham, as well as major brands such as Starbucks and Samsung. Prior to joining NGS, Tara worked in both the US and Singapore, helping brands including Volvo, Visa, Diageo, Mastercard, and Bloomberg find customer relevance and value through the application of emerging technologies and creativity.
The Art Basel Miami Beach 2024 Conversations program is curated by Kimberly Bradley.

[@bfshorts6443]

not to bash the creative spirit of artists and the generous efforts of those working to support or provide financial patronage, but digital art embodies some of the worst aspects of the market - speculation, chasing trends, fixing prices, and fortifying thought echo chambers

[@Zenavesta]

A whole lot of nothing being said here