As the public focuses more on the digital empire, non-fungible tokens or NFTs have become a hot topic in the art and investing world. Recently, NFTs have caught the attention of wealthy investors and celebrities. Here is a piece of fantastic news for art lovers out there, who are curious about the NFT phenomenon. They will have a chance now to visit a physical museum in Seattle to understand this emerging art form. The Seattle NFT Museum, scheduled to open on January 14, 2022, will become the first museum dedicated to non-fungible tokens.
The museum will feature coveted art collections and influential artists. It will also become a space for gathering enthusiasts and collectors in the digital art community.
The Seattle NFT Museum (SNFTM) is the brainchild of Seattle entrepreneurs Jennifer Wong and Peter Hamilton. The founders are active in the startup community and former colleagues at the marketing firm Tune.
Wong is currently the head of sustainability at the digital freight startup Convoy and an adjunct professor at the University of Washington. On the other hand, Hamilton is the former CEO at Tune and currently the head of commerce at the streaming television platform Roku.
In a chat with GeekWire, Wong said that digital awareness in Seattle is wider than in other places. She added that a strong NFT community is searching for more ways to share and build connections.
“There is also a rising curiosity among the general public. The Seattle NFT Museum is open for anyone who has an idea about NFT and wants to learn a little more.” – Jennifer Wong.
Non-fungible tokens or NFTs are virtual certificates of ownership that are tracked as part of a blockchain computing network. NFTs have created a craze among collectors and cryptocurrency enthusiasts in recent years. From random internet memes to profound digital masterpieces, almost everything can become an NFT and are available to purchase for substantial amounts.
NFTs are making a notable impact on art and digital possessions, with over $3.5B in sales recorded in 2021. The top three categories of NFT, such as collectibles, sports, and arts, will be the center of the Seattle NFT Museum. That is why the founders are passionate about providing an outlet for creators, artists, IP owners, and collectors to show their NFTs in a highly contextual and physical setting.
Museum Goals: Inspiration, Education, and Community
Wong and Hamilton envision the museum as an actual brick-and-mortar location to further promote NFT in the Pacific Northwest. They revealed the three primary goals of the dedicated space: inspiration, education, and community. According to them, the said elements are not present in digital forums and platforms where they will showcase the NFTs.
Located at 2125 First Avenue, Seattle, Washington, the museum will feature more than 30 high-quality screens for showcasing digital art. The museum website considers the quality of the displays as the foundation of this immersive gallery. Likewise, the art on display is on the blockchain. They will be presented on loan from artists, creators, galleries, and collectors.
The innovative physical NFT gallery is an interesting twist compared to the initiative by Seattle-based Phosphene. Phosphene was launched as an online portal of sorts by tech expert Art Min and Kirsten Anderson, owner of Roq La Rue gallery.
The reliability and size of exhibitions will bring inspiration that smartphone scrolling cannot provide, Wong explained. Wong added that nothing compares to looking at art standing next to another person.
The ultimate goal for building the museum is to make NFTs more accessible, promote digital arts and artists, and help people learn more about interpreting the emerging art form.
Currently, Wong is personally reaching out with artists and, at the same time, curating for the museum’s opening shows. Meanwhile, Hamilton is managing Discord and collector communities. While the two call SNFTM a fun passion project, they still need help. In fact, they are currently recruiting talents for administration, curation, community management, and IT roles.
In addition to art display, the Seattle NFT Museum will also be open for the following activities:
- NFT minting events
- team-building workshops
- conferences
- fundraisers
- holiday parties
- photoshoots
- and other events
Artists and Collections to be Featured by Seattle NFT Museum
Here are artists and collections to be featured during the opening of SNFTM:
- Headlining artist, Blake Kathryn: Los Angeles 3D artist with a futuristic aesthetic who has collaborated with Jimmy Choo, Lil Nas X, Vox, and Warner Brothers. Blake Kathryn will do a Question & Answer segment at the museum during the SNFT opening events.
- Collector showcase, Bird Collection: The works owned by Aaron Bird, Seattle tech founder, and NFT collector, will be lent to the museum as its first exhibition. Bird previously founded two startups – Bizible Pienza.
- Seattle artist, Neon Saltwater: Seattle-based Environmental designer and 3D artist Neon Saltwater specializes in curating digital and physical rooms. Saltwater worked with various clients and collaborators. This includes Barney’s New York, Starbucks, Facebook, Target, and Seattle Art Museum, to name a few.
- Seattle artist, Charles Peterson: A photographer famous for his documentation of the Seattle grunge music scene of the ‘80s and ’90s. He recently entered the NFT scene by selling a collection of rock images.
- Seattle artist, Robbie Trevino: He is a conceptual artist and Illustrator specializing in surreal and sci-fi illustration and design. Trevino has worked with Lucasfilm, Tool, DeadMau5, Magic the Gathering, Netflix (Love, Death, and Robots), Valve, Xbox, and more.
- Artist showcase, H+ Creative: The artist representation firm and visual services studio will showcase some of the most reputable NFT artists at the SNFTM opening.
In anticipation of the Seattle NFT Museum opening, tickets are already on sale since December 3 for the January 14 and 15, 2022 opening weekend events. Don’t miss the chance to meet NFT artists, collectors, and icons in the digital art community. Visit SeattleNFTMuseum.com for more details about tickets and reservations.
