NFT Art Market: A Survey of Artists and Platforms in 2021

Dominique Moulon surveys the NFT art landscape in 2021, focusing on artists and platforms rather than record sales. NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are blockchain-secured certificates of authenticity, typically bought with Ethereum on platforms like OpenSea, Rarible, Nifty Gateway, Foundation, SuperRare, and hic et nunc. The model connects artists directly to collectors. Albertine Meunier uses SuperRare for her animated collage 'Motionless Panties on a Satellites Train,' referencing Elon Musk's Starlink satellites. Baron Lanteigne integrates auction data into his MP4 loops on SuperRare, blurring real and virtual. Sabrina Ratté presents a 3D self-portrait loop 'Monade' on Foundation, using photosculpture techniques. Rafaël Rozendaal, who has associated artworks with domain names for 20 years, offers 'Fear of Choice' on Foundation, an abstract geometric piece. Frederik De Wilde uses hic et nunc for Tezos-based works like 'AI Beetle,' exploring AI-resistant camouflage. Antoine Schmitt presents generative works on hic et nunc, including 'Buy Me' and a pixel animation referencing the square form. Jonas Lund is critical of NFTs, creating his own cryptocurrency (Jonas Lund Token) to let investors influence his career. Moulon notes that the NFT hype may fade but blockchain will persist in art and economy.