‘We’re Creating Our Own Thing’: Art Blocks Founder Erick Calderon on the State of Generative Art
Art Blocks, an art-focused project that leverages blockchain technology, has defied the dismal conditions in the NFT market and managed to stay steady, and even grow, over the past year and a half. While many NFT projects have struggled, Art Blocks has found success by using NFTs to mint and distribute generative art works to collectors around the world.
In March, Art Blocks launched its own NFT marketplace, aimed at protecting the practice of enforcing creator royalties. Creator royalties are a fee sent back to the NFT’s creator in secondary market sales, typically ranging from 2.5% to 10%. This move was in response to the increasingly threatened status of creator royalties, as highlighted by recent controversy surrounding OpenSea’s decision to make royalties optional.
Expanding its slate of curated generative digital art projects, Art Blocks has included live, globe-spanning in-person minting events and even digital art projects featuring physical components. This versatility has contributed to the platform’s success and appeal to collectors.
In late September, Art Blocks hosted its third annual in-person gathering, the Marfa Weekend, in Marfa, Texas. The event brought together hundreds of Art Blocks collectors, artists, and community members. Attendees flocked to the tiny desert town to discuss the future of generative art, showcase cutting-edge projects, and celebrate Art Blocks’ remarkable resilience in the face of challenges.
During the Marfa Weekend, Art Blocks founder and CEO Erick Calderon, also known as Snowfro, sat down with Sander Lutz, lead culture reporter at Decrypt’s SCENE, to discuss the company’s work and Calderon’s perspective on its recent accomplishments. The interview shed light on the vision and determination that have propelled Art Blocks forward while others in the NFT market have struggled.
Art Blocks’ success in such a challenging market is a testament to the power of innovation and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. By leveraging blockchain technology and embracing new concepts such as generative art and physical components, Art Blocks has carved out a unique niche in the world of digital art. As the NFT market continues to evolve, projects like Art Blocks serve as beacons of hope and inspiration for artists and collectors alike.
