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Although Gateway Miami has wrapped up for this year, the impact of the groundbreaking exhibition continues.
As a Gateway partner for the fourth edition running, Christie’s had prime real estate at the Faena Forum to exhibit artworks included in its “Next Wave: The Miami Edit” auction, which offered many of the pieces that were exhibited at Gateway Miami to buyers across the world.
Bidding closed today—and buyers were in hot competition for many works on offer. The auction realized more than 104 ETH ($231,357) in total sales, not accounting for forthcoming aftersales.
Working with a diverse range of mediums, the artists—including Yatreda, Grant Yun, and Bryan Brinkman—offered works in their signature styles, which are widely celebrated in the world of contemporary digital art.
As the digital art space begins to emerge from the depths of the bear market, the Gateway Miami artists are celebrating strong sales in the auction, including Lagos-based Osinachi, with a realized price of 7.7 ETH, or $16,892, for his “Abitt: The Second Renaissance Is Coming,” and Ryan Koopmans, whose piece, “The Thought Of You,” received a high bid of 20 ETH, or $44,013.
Other notable results include Elman Mansimov’s “A Stop Sign is Flying in Blue Skies,” which sold for 15 ETH, Jack Butcher’s Signature, collected for 9.69 ETH, and Yatreda’s “Queen of Sheba: Mother of Menelik,” which crossed the finish line at 12.5 ETH.
The sale of “Queen of Sheba” exemplified the dramatic ways that an auction can unfold. Initially, it looked as if that piece had sold for 10 ETH, but after “a small obstacle during bidding,” the auction’s winner generously “agreed to relinquish the Queen after the auction clock ran out,” Yatreda announced in a post on X. The piece is now owned by Alexis Ohanian’s 776 venture capital firm.
Within the context of digital art’s decades-long campaign to build awareness in the world of traditional art, exhibitions like Gateway have transformed how audiences experience the works—and how they perform at auction.
Bryan Brinkman, the veteran digital pop artist who is well known for his joyful, vibrant animations, was delighted to exhibit “Self-Assemblage,” a 1/1 full of whimsical motion and wry references to his previous works, at Gateway Miami—and to offer it for auction (it sold for 3.75 ETH).
The piece explored the impact of his own prolific history: “The concept started with this idea of me moving forward creating while also feeling the need to look back and support past projects and work. Every piece we mint to the blockchain is forever there and builds up, creating a weight that can often feel overwhelming,” he wrote on X.
For Brinkman, showing “Self-Assemblage” at Gateway Miami meant he could present it at its very best for audiences, including beloved colleagues and friends.
“I thought that nft now did an incredible job giving these works the room and space to be seen correctly. The screen was huge, and the animation played perfectly. By far the best displays of the week in Miami.”
Bryan Brinkman
“I thought that nft now did an incredible job giving these works the room and space to be seen correctly. The screen was huge, and the animation played perfectly. By far the best displays of the week in Miami. For me, it was a special moment to be a part of Christie’s, but also to be in a room filled with so many peers I respect,” he told nft now.
To auction with Christie’s and other Gateway artists was particularly meaningful for Brinkman.
“For me, releasing with Christie’s is especially special because for almost a decade, I worked across the street from it, and would frequently browse their auctions and galleries. Now, to be selling there really puts it all into perspective,” he said.
To Jenni Pasanen, whose “Myosotis” was collected by Dave Krugman, the opportunity to exhibit her work at Gateway–with its nuanced, rigorous approach to presenting digital art–added depth and meaning to the experience of auctioning the work at Christie’s. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to exhibit my work at Gateway. It’s a wonderful chance to share my art with a broader audience beyond the Christie’s sale room,” she told nft now. “Gateway serves as a meeting point of the physical and digital worlds, uniting them in one place. Human connection and seeing things in a different environment has a different feeling than viewing the pieces from your everyday screens. As all your senses are immersed in a different environment, you will experience the work differently — from sight to hearing, to smell; you experience moments like never before, uniquely in that state,” she said.
