How NFTs are shaping the art world
CHICAGO—Global art activation agency Muros stirred up the Windy City’s art scene when, for its fourth annual art gallery, it incorporated the “it” technology of the moment: NFTs. The NFT gallery experience, called Titan Vision, took place on August 11 as part of Muros’ Titan Walls Mural Festival.
The exhibition took over the West Loop’s Loft on Lake and furnished the space with art from nine global creators. Admission was free for the 700 attendees who read Titan Vision, which featured “a truly unique 360-degree structure with oversized screens to display the artwork,” said Dave SeidlerCEO and co-founder of Muros.
The event welcomed 700 guests and showcased NFTs by Steven Baltay, Ally Grimm, Thibault Zeller, Alexy Préfontaine, Serwah Attafuah, Juan Carlos Montes, Jason Naylor, Robin Velghe and Nephro.Photo: Courtesy of Titan Vision
At the doodle station, graphic artist Blake Jones and muralist BirdMilk customized prizes—such as an Oculus Quest, a Keurig coffee machine, or a Chicago Bulls-branded hat—with whimsical designs.Photo: Courtesy of Titan Vision
“In fact, we curated the artwork to only include gesture-based NFTs,” he added, attributing the gesture to how Titan Vision could be distinguished from other non-fungible token-focused exhibits. And for viewers interested in a piece, a QR code next to it allowed them to scan “to learn more about the art and/or purchase the artwork.” Seidler also made sure to note that “Muros does not make money from any Titan Vision NFT sales,” plus that non-fungible tokens “allow artists to receive ongoing royalties from their sales, [thus] help create more art.”
Attendees could scan QR codes next to the NFTs to either purchase or learn more about the artwork.Photo: Courtesy of Titan Vision
The festivities included a doodle station where Chicago-based graphic artist Blake Jones and muralist BirdMilk customized prizes with whimsical designs. “They sometimes collaborated on a theme given to them by the participants, and ultimately created a custom piece of art for guests to take home,” Seidler said.
In addition, the first 100 people to participate in Titan Vision won everything from an Oculus Quest to a Keurig coffee maker, Chicago Bulls-branded hat, Polaroid camera and more. And not to forget – an on-site bar served drinks in collaboration with Maplewood Brewery and Distillery and Topo Chico, including the “Liquid Lightning” signature cocktail, and served food courtesy of Kuma’s Corner.
The addition of Titan Vision marked the first NFT-centric event added to the Titan Walls Mural Festival. Seidler said that when the fest launched in 2019, it was “a passion project, driven by the desire to create a platform to promote artistic expression and give back to our hometown.” What began as a one-day event has grown into a week-long all about art extravaganza.
The event was produced by Chicago-based global art agency Muros. The agency’s CEO and co-founder, Dave Seidler, told BizBash that the exhibit was curated “to only include motion-based NFTs.”Photo: Courtesy of Titan Vision
And thanks to the NFT boom of the past year, the addition of Titan Vision has put Titan Walls—now Chicago’s largest mural festival—on the map. Seidler said of the introduction of Titan Vision: “In line with Muros’ corporate ethos… [it] serves to provide a new and unique platform for artists – in this case digital and NFT artists.”
He also hoped Titan Vision allowed “more people to see the value in NFTs and recognize the artists as brands continue to expand the utility or value they offer.” Seidler also predicted that “there will be many creative ways NFTs will become part of our everyday lives in the years to come.”
An on-site bar served “Liquid Lightning,” a signature cocktail that, in a fun touch, was made with ice cubes that lit up.Photo: Courtesy of Titan Vision
