In this episode of Reimagine Ownership, hosts Dan sits down with Gillian Varney, CEO of Lumen Prize and Lumen Studios, and Jack Addis, Director of Lumen Studios, to explore the evolution of digital art and Lumen's rich legacy of supporting artists at the intersection of art and technology.
Key Topics Discussed:
The history and evolution of digital art since the 1960s
The challenges of selling and collecting digital art before blockchain technology
Lumen's origin story and mission to support digital artists globally
The democratization of digital art and making it accessible to new audiences
The transformation of art ownership through blockchain technology
Lumen's impressive reach across 65 countries and gender parity in submissions
The sophisticated intersection of technology and various art forms, including choreography
Notable Quotes:
"Artists have always used new tools, and with the rise of any technology, creative people will take advantage and learn how to use that once it becomes available to them." - Jack Addis
"Digital art really maintains an intimate connection between the viewer and the work itself. And there's far less time spent on maintenance and care and storage and you can really get to the meat very quickly." - Gillian Varney
Key Takeaways:
Digital art has a rich history dating back to the 1960s, contrary to common perception of it being a recent phenomenon
Blockchain technology has revolutionized how digital artists can monetize and sell their work
Lumen has supported over 900 artists across 65 countries, maintaining a unique 50-50 gender parity in submissions
Digital art encompasses more than static images - it includes various forms like choreography merged with technology
Guest Bios: Gillian Varney is CEO of Lumen Prize and Lumen Studios. With a background in fine art storage, logistics, and art curation, Gillian brings a unique perspective on the intersection of traditional and digital art worlds.
Jack Addis is Director of Lumen Studios. With a background in digital art since age 18 and experience as an art technician, Jack has been instrumental in building Lumen's presence since 2015.
Connect with Lumen
Lumen Prize Categories 2025 (Going live on January 31st, 2025): https://www.lumenprize.com/categories
Lumen Prize Website: https://www.lumenprize.com
Lumen Prize Twitter: https://x.com/lumenprize
Artists Mentioned:
Christian Kohl - Digital Art
Operator - Generative Art Award 2023
Keiken - Haptic Womb
Diego Trujillo Pisante - Lights AI Trained to Sounds of Mexico City
NonoTak - Eclipse Exhibition
Phaidon - Book Publishers
Connect With Us:
X:https://t.me/hellometaversal
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/metaversal/?viewAsMember=true
Website:https://www.metaversal.gg
