Miami Tech Company Exhibits NFT Art in NYC
Blackdove, Miami-based art and technology company, displays many of its non-fungible token (NFT) art in New York City.
NFT art is designed to be digital, showcased on high-resolution displays that allow audiences to experience still and moving images. The mission of Blackdove, a 15-person team, is to allow digital art to be displayed alongside traditional artwork.
Marc Billings, the founder of Blackdove, said New York City is Blackdove’s center for artist recruitment and management. The company currently stores work by over 300 artists.
“New York City is also our top market. We currently work with Superchief Gallery in NYC to display NFT art and will be opening additional galleries shortly. We’re encouraging new galleries to launch so more people can experience NFT art firsthand,” said Billings.
Billings said he was inspired to found Blackdove in 2011 after buying his first piece of digital art at Art Basel.
“I then founded Blackdove in 2017, building a cloud platform coded with React JS and Node. Our software allows any work of digital NFT art to be displayed seamlessly on any display in the world, instantly,” said Billings.
Billings said Blackdove partnered with LG to produce custom 4K screens. All major 4K television monitors can act as display screens as well. A purchaser controls the art on their phone through a mobile app.
“To get a taste of NFT art, New Yorkers can now visit the lobby of the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. The Blackdove-LG screen there is 65 feet wide and 12 feet high,” said Billings.
Billings said one of the most complicated aspects of showing NFT art that moves is formatting the transition from the “stitch point.” The stitch point is the last frame of a sequence of moving images. Blackdove works with an artist to get the display to transition smoothly back to the first frame.
“When you come into contact with a piece that offers you total immersion, the brain just opens up. People say, ‘Wow.’ They stand transfixed,” said Billings.
Blackdove provides artists with multiple ways to earn money from their artwork, including NFT sales, commercial licensing, and options to earn royalties. Commercial licensing will allow the artists to lower prices while reaching the mass market.
“Apple in-app purchases allow the licensing of works up to $999. The target pricing (for licensed works, however) is between $20 and $99 for a version (of a piece),” said Billings.
Billings said individuals who want a chance to preview digital art in their home could pay for Blackdove’s monthly subscription service, which costs $99.
“The subscription allows you to view over 5,000 works from our collection, with more being added all the time. Our software gives audiences and artists a way to share and enjoy digital art all over the world,” said Billings.
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