Opening night might feel like the finish line, but for artists, it's really just the beginning. Each new viewer adds fresh layers of meaning to your work, making it come alive in new ways.
Some artists might mourn the loss of this social ritual in the digital age (introverts, not so much). But the larger truth is that the internet is just another gallery, one where the conversation never has to end and the canvas is never truly finished. In 2024, there are three key innovations in tech that digital artists should have on their radar: Augmented reality, non-fungible tokens (or NFTs) and of course, the elephant in the gallery: Artificial intelligence.
AI: Know your frenemy
Yes, there are still real concerns about the environmental impact of AI and the way human art is used without permission to fuel machine learning algorithms.
Today’s digital artists are proving that AI can be a powerful ally, harnessing its potential to push creative boundaries.
The churning biomes of Argentinian artist Sofia Crespo reflect her view that “technologies are a biased product of the organic life that created them and not a completely separated object.” Over the years, Rashaad Newsome’s “Being the (Digital Griot)” has evolved from a vogue-dancing tour guide for Newsome’s exhibits to a work of art in its own right.
In the end, AI is just another tool. Whether an artist uses it or not, they can take care that AI isn’t using them by uploading their art only to trusted outlets. Digital communities like Creator Collective have an artist-first focus, and have taken steps to inhibit scraping of the images featured on the site. Not every platform can say the same. Watermarks and masking tools like Glaze can be an effective second line of defense, and should be used even on images that aren’t specifically for sale.
AR: The next dimension in art
Whether it’s implemented through a simple smartphone or a pricey rig like Apple Vision Pro, AR is a striking way to project art into physical space – and the implications are endless.
Museums like the National Gallery in London and Cleveland Museum of Art are already embracing augmented reality to create immersive, interactive experiences.
Miami’s Pérez Art Museum and the National Museum of Singapore even have exhibits that exist almost entirely as AR constructs.
And here's the exciting part: AR isn't just for big institutions—you can use it too, bringing your art to life in incredible ways.
These new innovations help museums appeal to the next generation, but individual artists can use AR too. Adobe Aero is free and probably the best bet for newcomers to the tech, especially if they already use existing Adobe staples like Illustrator. There are also freemium tools like Artivive and Onirix that artists can use to turn the world into their own personal canvas. The results can be truly impressive if they’re viewed through smart goggles like the Vision Pro. Mind you, that tech is probably still years away from widespread commercial use, but it never hurts for digital artists to be ahead of the curve.
Making your mark with NFTs
On the commerce side, NFTs continue to reshape the way art is owned bought and sold. They may not have been in the news as much lately, but art speculators and auction houses have definitely taken notice, and that means artists should too. Whether you think CryptoPunk NFTs are legitimate art pieces or virtual Funko Pops for rich kids, they continue to fetch millions. Overall revenue may be down from NFT’s “breakthrough” year in 2022, but it’s still projected to be at least a $600 million market in 2025. And if you’re an artist, the fact that NFTs allows you to establish concrete ownership over your digital works is powerful enough.
The downside? The fees to mint those NFTs remain a sizeable barrier for fledgling artists. Worse yet, some of those fees crop up only after an NFT is sold, making it all too possible for newbies to actually lose money on their first sale. Long story short: Research is key. OpenSea and Rarible remain the most popular one-stop-shops for minting and marketing NFTs, and they each have their own helpful walkthroughs. Zifa Mae also has a solid overview of the various platforms over on Medium.
Join the Collective
All these new technologies have allowed buyers to bypass the physical opening night party, but the age-old challenge remains for artists: How do you introduce yourself, and your art, to the world? The possibilities are literally endless in this constantly evolving digital gallery, and creative minds are going to be the best equipped to find their way through.
At Creator Collective, we help artists stay ahead of all these trends by providing the tools, resources, and community to thrive in the digital age. Whether you're trying to understand the implications of AI in an ever-evolving landscape, integrating AR into your exhibitions or exploring the potential of NFTs, Creator Collective offers a platform to connect with fellow visionaries, showcase your work to a broader audience, and keep pace with the latest in digital art innovation. Join us today and take your work to the next level in this ever-expanding frontier.
Your journey in the digital art world starts here.