Beyond the Edge: An NFT Tribute to Paul Jackson Pollock
In July 2023, the Jackson Pollock Studio, a division of the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, collaborated with digital art trailblazer Iconic Moments to unveil its debut NFT collection, paying homage to the iconic painter. Remarkably, the collection was swiftly embraced by art lovers and collectors, selling out within a mere two and a half hours.
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To truly appreciate the success of this collection, it is essential to understand the significant impact of Paul Jackson Pollock (1912–1956), the renowned American artist and a major force in abstract expressionism. Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, Pollock profoundly influenced the art world, and his works continue to be celebrated worldwide.
Beyond the Edge Source: NFTCalendar
Back in 2006, a seismic wave swept through the art world when Pollock's “No. 5, 1948” was sold for $140 million at Sotheby's auction, setting a record as the most costly painting at that time. The momentum continued a decade later in 2016, when “Number 17A”, another masterpiece by Pollock, found its way into the hands of a private collector for $200 million.
However, Pollock's truly distinctive trait was his unusual technique. Bypassing conventional easels, he chose to lay his canvas on his studio floor. Using a variety of fluid paints, inclusive of ordinary household variants, he harnessed a method of drip painting or splattering to create his distinctive artworks. His entire studio morphed into a large-scale canvas, with the fabric stretched on the floor becoming a unique focal point of his creative process. This painting style enabled Pollock to apply paint with unprecedented vigor, immersing him directly into the heart of his creation. As a result, the canvases bought by collectors represented only a fragment of the artistic expression birthed by Pollock.
Helen A. Harrison, the head of the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center, remarked, “Typically, what is on the floor of most artist studios does not have a direct relationship to what is on the canvas. But the spillover on Pollock's floor is analogous to the gestures in his canvases. You can relate his process directly to the product.”
The new NFT collection drew inspiration from this unappreciated aspect of Pollock's work. High-resolution photographs of the paint splatters on the artist's studio floor served as the basis for this collection. AI was then employed to combine fragments from these photographs into four comprehensive images.
The physical NFTs, each carrying a wet seal and a manual number, were released as a limited edition — 125 copies priced at 0.79 ETH each.
Prominent collector Pranksy wrote, “There is another very special art project that is slipping under some radars tonight.. @Iconic_NFT
has collaborated with Jackson Pollock's studio to bring Limited edition prints and digital counterparts of extracts from his studio floor to life. There are a total of 125 numbered prints and NFT counterparts of each of the 4 prints. I had to reserve a set I did not want to miss this one!” As it turned out, Pranksy purchased four NFT collections on the spot.
In the end, Iconic Moments CEO Chris Camming revealed that within a few hours, the collection raked in over $100,000, even though it took just two minutes to produce. A substantial portion of the proceeds will be channeled towards the upkeep and preservation of Jackson Pollock's studio, which in itself has become a piece of art.
Beyond the limited run of “Beyond the Edge: The Jackson Pollock Studio Collection”, Pollock's Studio plans to release Pollock Ordinals in August 2023. This will feature his Bitcoin Ordinals-based NFT works alongside the creations of three other digital artists.
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