One of the biggest cultural events in digital art is happening in Marfa, Texas. Here’s everything you need to know.
Next week, a small Texas town called Marfa will host one of the biggest cultural events in digital art, drawing creators, collectors, and art lovers from around the globe. Now in its third year, this festival brings digital art to life in a way that is always inspiring.
From all-star lineup exhibitions to live art-making and some performance art in between, there’s tons to do and see this year. Here’s our pick of 5 things not to miss at Marfa. (Psst! Keep an eye out for the Rarible fam in bright yellow. We’ll be front and center —See you there!😉)
1.Tokens of Presence, Art Blocks Gallery
Tokens of Presence is a group exhibition with a killer lineup of artists blending the digital and the physical. The star of the show will likely be Michael Kozlowski’s hybrid artwork ‘Bokeh’ which has been making waves since its reveal in September.
Iskra Velitchkova, Zach Lieberman, and Lars Wander are also exhibiting, and a live performance by James Merrill promises to be worth checking out.
2.OONA: Moo, Milk, Marfa at Casa de Moo
OONA is an anonymous conceptual artist whose work delves into the intersections of technology, the body, and identity. Over the past three years, OONA has been making significant waves in the NFT space with a pretty diverse range of creations from performance art and image making to exhibitions at prestigious venues like Christie’s and The Met.
Her latest performance piece at Marfa (described as “udderly delightful”🐮) explores the intricate relationship between humans and animals. Showing on Friday at 2 PM–3 PM, 6 PM–7 PM, and 11 PM–12 AM. Don’t miss it!
3.Joe Pease: Exhibition at glitch Gallery
Joe Pease is one of the most revered names in AI art right now, probably best known for his piece ‘Smoke Break’. His works draw heavily on the languages of cinema and surrealism. Watching a Joe Pease video feels like lucid dreaming on a hot summer’s day, and we are here for it! His teaser for Marfa has us hyped, along with the fact that it’s a one-night-only show. Catch it on Saturday night from 7pm ‘till late. Capacity is limited so our advice is get there early.
Smoke Break pic.twitter.com/DSiWMaux6R
— Joe Pease (@joepease) May 4, 2024
4.DCA: Stamp Stand
Who doesn’t love some IRL art-making?! DCA (Daniel Calderon Arenas) DCA will be bringing algorithmic designs to life in the form of real ink stamps. DCA makes intricate generative artworks that include text, patterns, grids, and a keen eye for color. He also makes complex drawings using a delightful plotting robot, which leaves us curious and excited to see what’s in store at Marfa.
We do a little plotting @bantamtools #nextdraw pic.twitter.com/9KDRg71bmU
— (DCA) Daniel Calderon Arenas (@DaCaldera) October 13, 2024
5.Bernar Venet: Performing Generative Sculpting, a panel discussion at Crowley Theater
Artworld legend Bernar Venet takes to the stage in a panel discussion about generative art. Venet is best known for his minimalist and geometric sculptures, which emphasize form, space, and balance through the use of simple shapes and materials like steel. In February of this year he launched his first generative digital artwork, in collaboration with Sotheby’s.
Also on the panel will be Michael Bouhanna from Sotheby’s, curator Viola Lukács, and artist jiwa. Thursday at midday.
Hyped is an understatement for how the whole NFT art space feels right now. The artists on this list are really just the tip of the iceberg, check out the full program here. Our advice: get plenty of rest and hit the streets early. You don’t want to miss anything.
Are you going to Marfa?
As Marfa gears up to become the epicenter of the digital art space, we’re doing some scheming of our own here at Rarible. Keep your eyes peeled for some exciting announcements on email and socials, and if you see us at Marfa, come say hi!
