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Sotheby’s Holding Meme-Inspired NFT Auction Featuring Beeple
The auction inspired by the popular subreddit “Oddly Satisfying” will feature works from artists Anyma, Beeple and Luis Ponce.
By Cam Thompson
Updated Mar 15, 2023, 5:08 p.m. Published Mar 15, 2023, 3:18 p.m.
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Sotheby’s said Wednesday it will hold a non-fungible token (NFT) auction featuring digital art inspired by the popular internet trend “oddly satisfying,” from social network Reddit.
The “Natively Digital: Oddly Satisfying” auction will run from March 17 to March 24 in Paris. Prominent NFT artists including Anyma, Beeple, Lucas Zanotto and Josh Pierce will showcase their 3D animated works in the sale inspired by a trend that originated as a "subreddit" in 2013.
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Absolutely bonkers!
— Lucas Zanotto 👀 (@lucas_zanotto) March 15, 2023
I'm very proud to be part of a Sotheby's auction!@Sothebys x @lucas_zanotto pic.twitter.com/ESpJAa25QI
See Also: NFT Artist Beeple Opens Digital Art Gallery in Charleston, SC
Additionally, Sotheby’s is hosting a New York-based auction the following week called “Natively Digital: Glitch-ism,” featuring "glitch art," which are digital works inspired by the early days of the internet. The auction, which will take place from March 24 to March 31, will include works from digital artists XCopy, Luis Ponce, jakethedegen and more.
Michael Bouhanna, head of digital art and NFTs at Sotheby’s, said he’s looking forward to showcasing the intersection of art and technology and the historical lineage embedded in current creative trends.
“With both editions of Natively Digital this month, one of the recurring themes throughout is how digital art communicates our ever-evolving relationship with technology,” Bouhanna said in a press release. “Each presents a look at the pervasive influence of digital culture that will continue to shape our lives.”
Sotheby’s previous “Natively Digital” sale took place in April 2021, at the peak of the NFT boom. Since then, the auction house has focused its efforts on incorporating NFTs into sales alongside traditional works. In April 2022, it conducted a $2.3 million sale of generative art NFTs featuring works by generative artists Charles Csuri, Tyler Hobbs and Vera Molnar. Last week, Sotheby’s teamed up with Pussy Riot member Nadya Tolokonnikova’s Unicorn DAO to host a sale in honor of International Women’s Day.
Read more: Beeple NFT Sold for Record-Setting $69.3M at Christie's Auction
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