The 0x.17 gallery at the southern tip of Manhattan showcases a collection of eight non-fungible tokens (NFTs) unveiled by the online marketplace SuperRare. Despite the NFT market experiencing a downturn, physical NFT galleries like 0x.17 are still thriving, proving that digital art is here to stay.
The 0x.17 gallery, nestled within Pier 17, a venue operated by The Howard Hughes Corp., opened its doors in June 2022. Since then, it has partnered with SuperRare to showcase a series of collections. The most recent one, “A Digital Transcendence,” includes work from renowned digital artists, including the AI artist Botto.
Despite the chill of the Crypto Winter, physical NFT galleries and exhibition spaces like 0x.17 continue to operate and showcase work. Other notable galleries include the Seattle NFT Museum, The NFT Gallery in London, and EXPANDED.ART in Berlin. These spaces are not just about showcasing digital art; they’re about educating the public about the NFT space.
Lynn Rosenberger, the co-founder and chief curator of The NFT Gallery, believes that digital art should be viewed the same way as traditional art. Despite the Crypto Winter, she has noticed an uptick in collector interest over the past few months. “Our finances, in that sense, looked pretty dark at the beginning because, of course, Crypto Winter wasn’t helping,” she told Fortune. “However, now we’re increasing 25% each month.”
The 0x.17 gallery is about more than just showcasing digital art. It’s about creating a space where people can learn about and engage with the world of NFTs. Paloma Rodriguez, a curator at SuperRare Labs, believes there’s a need and desire for the general public to be aware of the NFT space.
Education around this space is still really small, she said. There’s definitely a need and desire for the general public and people outside of this small space to be aware of it.
The world of NFTs and digital art is not just surviving but thriving, despite the market downturn. Galleries like 0x.17 are proving that digital art is not just a passing trend but a new way of experiencing and owning art.