Mark your calendars for a series of professional development workshops to discuss trends and issues in self-representation, digital art and career development. Our panelists will provide practical advice for emerging artists looking for opportunities of growth and mentorship.

Non-Fungible Tokens, or NFTs, are the new buzzword in the commercial art world. But what exactly are NFTs? And how are they changing the art world? A panel of experts Krista Kim, Vandana Taxali and Elena Zavelev, and moderator Paola Poletto, will explore the basics of how NFTs work, their popularity and consider how or if they mark a breakthrough in art.

Our panelists will answer the following questions:

Why should I create an NFT, or not?

How do you create an NFT?

How are NFTs priced and where do you sell them?

What are some issues artists should be aware of when creating NFTs?

What are the copyright issues pertaining to NFTs?

Speakers:

• Krista Kim is a metaverse artist and founder of the Techism movement. Her work explores digital technology's effects on human perception, media and social structures, and examines the use of technology as instruments of well-being. In 2014, she founded Techism, a philosophy that encourages artists to promote digital humanism for digital culture. Her 2021 creation, Mars House, was the first metaverse home for sale as an NFT in history. Kim was chosen by Louis Vuitton as a #Louis200 visionary in 2021 and is a contributing Metaverse Editor for Singapore Vogue. She was named one of the “Top 30 Most Influential People of the Metaverse” by Read and Write Magazine.

• Elena Zavelev Co-Founder & CEO. 

Elena Zavelev is an entrepreneur focusing on digital art & NFTs, based in New York City. Elena has been successfully building tools for artists, curators & collectors in digital art and NFT space since 2017 with CADAF, Digital Art Month and New Art Academy. Earlier engagements include Christie’s, 1stDibs, Skate’s Art Market Research and more. Elena’s writings can be found on Forbes, Observer, ESP Cultural Magazine and Deloitte. She holds a MA degree in contemporary art and connoisseurship from Christie’s Education.

• Vandana Taxali (B.A.Sc., J.D., LL.B, C.Arb) is an art-tech entrepreneur and intellectual property lawyer with over 15 years’ experience in the area of technology, blockchain and arts/entertainment. She is the founder of Artcryption, a platform to protect, manage and licence art, digital assets and IP with NFTs and blockchain technology.  She is also an art arbitrator with the International Court of Art at the Hague. Vandana serves on the Standard Council of Canada blockchain committee and the Art Identity Standard, NFT Working Group which is a consortium of art industry leaders developing a universal art ID standard. Vandana is also a consultant for digiart.ca to promote the education of NFTs and innovative technologies like AR, VR and blockchain to artists funded by the Canada Council. 

Moderator:

• Paola Poletto is Director of Engagement & Learning at the AGO. She oversees the AGO X RBC Emerging Artists residencies, research and workshops, reimagined and expanded in the program’s 11th year. She has worked with 30+ artists since the program’s inception