BY HADANI DITMARS | What if art belonged to millions, not to millionaires?
A pop-up show happening in Chelsea this week will give art lovers a chance to find out.
A new international fractional art venture called the Lisa Foundation is joining forces with Montreal artist Frederic Duquette a.k.a. FVCKRENDER, one of the world’s highest-selling on-chain (blockchain) artists, to “democratise art” during Frieze in NYC.
The High Line 23 building designed by Neil Denari, at 515 W. 23rd St., will host a pop-up show from Thurs., May 2, to Sat., May 4, featuring several works by Duquette, who has a huge online following and has produced tour visuals for rapper Lil Nas X.
Among them, a new 4-foot work called “Big Care” will be released for fractional purchase by up to 300 collectors. Beyond owning a percentage of the sculpture, each collector will receive a limited-edition non-fungible token of the sculpture and a signed, limited-edition physical print from Fvckrender. The sculpture will be launched and revealed at Fvckrender’s independent debut solo art show, hosted by acclaimed pop culture critic and curator Carlo McCormick on May 2 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“I want to open the art world by offering art at accessible prices to appeal to a new, wider audience,” the artist said. “Holding this exhibit alongside Frieze New York is my way of tapping into the art vibe and extending it outward.”
The sculpture “Big Care” (30.5 inches by 36 inches by 48.5 inches and weighing 120 pounds) is made of reinforced Hydrocal plaster, resin, steel and automotive paint and is described by the artist as being “all about connections.”
“The interlocked hand and chain links represent how we’re tied together, showing the strength and complexity of our relationships,” he said. “It’s a visual reminder of our interconnected lives, inviting us to consider the ways we support, rely on and care for each other.”
It’s a fitting partnership for a company that’s all about collective ownership of art. According to chief curator Nina Kim, “LISA is the first fractional fine art sales platform for the collective ownership and governance of physical art. It enables everyone to own museum-quality artworks, starting with just $1.”
Kim says it’s a groundbreaking approach to fractional ownership, in that, once a sale is closed (purchase made), collectors can participate in governance decisions, such as insurance, storage and showcasing the artwork in exhibitions. Collectors also join the LISA Social Club, where they gain access to owner memorabilia (collectibles, prints, NFTs, etc.), curated physical and digital experiences, and a group chat with other co-owners. As co-owners, collectors also have the authority to decide when and where the artwork is sold.
The LISA collective has acquired a number of works from a diverse range of artists and partnered with iconic galleries, such as the MARC STRAUS Gallery in New York. Kim says they are partnering with Duquette because his legion of Gen Z followers have an innate understanding of fractional art, but not necessarily the big bucks to make major portfolio investments.
Kim explains that LISA offers an alternative to traditional fractional platforms, like Masterworks, which offer investors opportunities for more blue-chip investments.
“Artworks that would otherwise only be able to be viewed in a gallery or museum are now available for purchase,” she says.
C.E.O. and co-founder Ivan Folin has developed a unique software that empowers collective ownership decisions, making fractional art ownership easy and accessible.
So how does it work?
“LISA platform is now open for everyone,” the chief curator explains. “So simply create an account, select the artworks you love, and start collecting anytime anywhere.”
While LISA also works with more traditional artists, like Amanda Baldwin and Karine Locatelli, Fvckrender has been on their radar for a while. The self-taught, futuristic, tech-digital artist turned injury into opportunity after a 2016 bike accident made him lose sensation on the left side of his body. Compelled to exercise his brain, he started experimenting with digital renders. The result was work with a defining affinity for sharp architectural geometry, beaming future landscapes and brilliant, crystalline arrangements.
The artist’s work has been included in sales at major auctions houses, such as Christie’s and Sotheby’s, and his clients include Columbia Records, Puma, Spotify, Instagram, Cirque du Soleil and Dior, among many others. A rare artist who has had success and exhibits in both the next-generation Web3 space and traditional art sphere, Fvckrender is one of the highest-selling on-chain artists, with cryptocurrency prices for his NFTs exceeding 171 Ether, or more than $460,000. He’s also caught the attention of bidders in traditional auction houses. “Shift,” a piece he created in 2021, was sold at Sotheby’s in New York for $107,100.
And now his work can be fractionally yours.
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