Toronto gallery pushes NFT art scene beyond the digital

Creators and curators experiment with the emerging medium

By: Alina Jaffer

Toronto’s Goat Studio is hosting in-person events showcasing virtual artworks known as non-fungible tokens (NFTs). These frequently sponsored galleries feature pieces from both local artists and iconic creators. A recent pop-up at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair saw thousands of visitors.

Event organizer Darya Shlyk told CanCulture about the studio’s goal of bringing NFTs to life in an innovative manner.

Shlyk said displaying artwork on-screen excites painters accustomed to traditional galleries. Unlike framed paintings, digital works do not fade or damage over time. They can also be punched up with animations and music.

Tech-savvy creators are equally intrigued by opportunities posed by in-person exhibitions which provide exposure for up-and-coming NFT artists.

Of course, not every participant is a novice.

Goat Studio co-artist Bill Kolomyjec began making generative computer art in the seventies. Kolomyjec’s website labels him as one of the medium’s earliest pioneers. 

According to Artland Magazine, generative art is made entirely or partially using an autonomous system described by algorithms.

After professing computer graphics at the Ohio State University and marketing 3D rendering technology for Pixar, Kolomyjec retired. He continues creating generative art at his leisure and thriving in NFT spaces with help from Goat Studio.

Compensation practices demonstrate how NFT makers like Kolomyjec differ from – and perhaps transcend – traditional artists.

“Usually, you sell your work once and that’s it,” said Shlyk. “With NFTs, when your work gets resold, you get royalties.” 

Shlyk poses in front of a row of screens with NFT artwork.

Goat Studio’s Darya Shlyk at an exhibition. (Photo courtesy of Darya Shlyk)

Stas Zlobinski, founder of Goat Studio, got involved with crypto art purchases in 2017. 

“He was always dreaming of acquiring nice, traditional art but it was always so expensive,” said Shlyk. “That’s why he went to NFTs.”

According to Shlyk, stories like Zlobinski’s make a case for accessibility in digital art. Ultimately, the association of NFTs with their ultra-rich proponents is not necessarily an accurate representation of those on the scene.

Anyone interested in learning more about this digital art landscape can keep an eye out for Goat Studio’s coming events. 

What exactly are NFTs?

Those in technology and gaming spaces may already understand virtual art. 

For the rest of us – in dire need of a clear descriptor – financial writer Robyn Conti explains NFTs as physical collector’s items, only digital.

“Instead of getting an actual oil painting to hang on the wall, the buyer gets a digital file instead,” said Conti for Forbes Advisor. 

Most of these files verify ownership of intangible assets like computer-generated graphic designs or camera-phone-captured photos. 

These virtual goods derive value from their one-of-a-kindness. The files are stored on blockchains that track transactions in a public ledger. This tracking function allows for verification of the file’s current and original owner.

Ownership of files representing real-world items is also verifiable via blockchains. Dolce & Gabbana’s Realtà Parallela collection, for instance, offered NFTs of digitally rendered streetwear items with corresponding physical versions.

New York Times technology columnist Kevin Roose spoke about possession of digital files in a FAQ called The Latecomer’s Guide to Crypto. He said NFTs are comparable to the certificate of authenticity one receives after buying an expensive sculpture. 

“The sculpture could be copied or forged — or someone could break into your house and steal it — but because you have the certificate of authenticity, you can prove that you are the owner of the original.”

Tangible or intangible, a work’s certificate of authenticity is important to art aficionados.

“Collectors value those ‘digital bragging rights’ almost more than the item itself,” said Conti.

Ultimately, evolution in NFT technology and purchasing is inevitable. The relatively new form is bound to change quickly and drastically with groups like Goat Studio gauging its every possibility.