Generative art has been around for decades. However, with the birth of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), it has been revived for the first time in about 60 years.
Learn about generative art, how they entered the NFT space, and discover some of the most popular generative NFT art collections on the market today.
What is generative art?
Generative art is a term that refers to art created using software. This program randomly creates shapes, patterns and colors and arranges them into artistically pleasing digital art.
Typically, the artist defines the process and the resulting artwork is produced by the software or program of their choice, making it a collaborative effort between humans and machines.
To describe art as generative, we need three things: algorithmic, geometrical, and randomness.
If the art is not randomly generated, it is not considered generative art, as it means that the artist has decided in advance. Moreover, the combination of algorithms and geometry helps develop amazing art while providing beautiful visual effects.
The origins of generative art date back to the 1960s. This was long before the internet and blockchain. Gradually, generative art grew into his genre of art. At the time, terms such as algorithmic art, computer art, and computer graphics were used to describe this “new” artistic method.
Algorithmic art and generative art are sometimes used interchangeably today, depending on the context. But the 1960s was also a time when a myriad of art concepts and styles emerged, including conceptual art, feminist art, and pop art, leaving generative art on the back burner.
But today, generative art is NFTsallowing various new artists to sell algorithmic art and make money.
What is Generative Art NFT?
A generative art NFT is a type of generative art that utilizes smart contracts in the creation process and is stored on the blockchain as an NFT.
Non-fungible tokens began a steady rise in 2017, but sales only spiked in 2021. $25 billionAnd despite the crypto winter of 2022 and the collapse of various crypto exchanges, NFTs continue to sell and $24.7 billion.
With the continued growth of NFTs, generative art NFTs are now a popular form of NFT art. Thanks to NFTs, people can easily collect and own generative art.
In fact, the popularity of generative art NFTs is currently attracting the attention of both art collectors and enthusiasts. This could help boost the overall generative art market.
How are generative art NFTs created?
Generative art NFTs are created using smart contracts and stored on the blockchain in the form of NFTs.
Ah smart contract Code that is protected on the blockchain and self-executing when certain conditions are met. This property makes it perfect for creating random, algorithm-driven art.
Artists looking to create generative art NFTs can first find AI tools and associated blockchains to help them create their art. Next, we establish the set of properties that make up the NFT and design one or more variations of each property. Copy the smart script into your NFT design to create a new NFT variation. You can also set a limit on the total number of NFTs that can be generated.
Additionally, artists can make their work more unique by creating generative art NFTs. Depending on what you want to accomplish as an artist, you can add different codes to your art, such as wallet IDs, transaction IDs, gas prices, etc.
The advent of AI-generated NFTs has opened up a whole new world for artists, allowing them to manipulate machines to create their own works of art. In fact, the market is full of resources, software, tools, and tutorials that artists can use to create generative art NFTs. However, the complexity and capabilities of generative art NFTs will determine which software to choose, for example.
Below is a list of some programs and resources currently being used by various creators to create generative art NFTs.
- asynchronous art is powerful software popular with artists, brands, and musicians interested in creating code-free generative art on the Ethereum blockchain. The artist can use the software to upload her NFT assets, create her entire NFT collection of generative art, and set their rarity.
- canvas sketch is a loose collection of modules, resources, and tools for developing generative art in the browser and JavaScript.
- DALL.E 2 is a new AI system with the ability to create realistic art and images from natural language descriptions.
- openFrameworks is an open source C++ tool that helps promote fast and efficient algorithms and generative art.
- sketcher A mobile application used to create and sell NFT art. Using this app, the artist can create, explore and sell her own NFT artwork.
Most, if not all, programming languages are available for creating generative art. In fact, most artists prefer using JavaScript. However, there is a wide variety of software that can be used to create generative art, with or without coding.
Top Generative Art NFT Collection
Now that we know what Generative Art and Generative Art NFTs are and how they are created, let’s take a look at some of the Generative Art NFT collections that have been created so far.
Autoglyph
Autoglyph is known as the first generative NFT art project created on-chain in 2019 by Larva Labs, the creators of CryptoPunks.
According to its developers, Autoglyphs are “each unique, code-created generative art experiment” running on Ethereum. blockchainLarva Labs has made it possible for anyone to generate their own Autoglyph for about $35. The entire collection has 512 of his glyphs, all created. The most expensive Autoglyph NFT is worth $941,428, and total sales for the entire collection are estimated to have reached his $41 million.
art block
art block A platform used to curate and create generative art. Launched by Erick Calderon in his 2020, the project ranks as the most successful generative art NFT project, achieving over $994 million in sales.
Chromie Squiggles was the first-ever generative art NFT created by Calderon himself with Art Blocks. Chromie Squiggles #4697, Ringers #109, Ringers #879. Fidenza #313 and Fidenza #77 are some of Art Blocks’ most expensive art NFTs.
lost poet
lost poet is a generative art NFT and strategy game created by Pak, known as one of the most popular and successful NFT artists at the time of writing. The Lost Poets project is his multi-stage NFT collection and strategy game, and is revered as Pak’s most detailed NFT project of his.
The Lost Poets release in September 2021 consists of several stages. The first phase, known as “Pages,” consisted of 65,536 single multi-edition NFTs and achieved $70 million in sales, with more phases to follow. Each NFT in the collection was generated by AI.
Solvency
Created by Ezra Miller, Solvency The project is a limited edition collection featuring WebGL simulations.
The WebGL artwork was developed using a texture feedback loop derived from a GAN trained on 35mm photos, relying on the details of the casting transaction and combined with layered colors containing 500 plates of the artwork. The hash of tokens used in solvency projects influences the final work of art.
Are Generative Art NFTs Worth Collecting?
Deciding whether or not to collect generative art NFTs boils down to personal preferences and end goals.
Generative art has been around for decades, but incorporating NFTs into generative art is a relatively new space. And like any new technology, it’s hard to tell whether the generative art NFT market will succeed in the years to come.
In 2021 alone, the NFT market for generative art will create $2.57 billion, up from $20 million in 2020. This growth shows that generative arts NFTs could potentially explode if the market can continue to maintain its upward trajectory despite the ongoing crypto winter.
Of course, it cannot be denied that it may take some time for generative art NFTs to achieve some of the successes that certain NFT projects have achieved to date.
But with all the hype and potential profit an investor can get from collecting generative art NFTs, you shouldn’t go blindly. NFTs are a highly speculative asset class, so consider market trends, do your own research, and only use amounts you can afford to lose.
