The blockchain idealizes decentralized and distributed knowledge, presenting ties to intersectional feminist theories and historical craft practices. Unfortunately, media attention around blockchain-based art reproduces certain biases in art discourse, focusing on North American and European production—predominantly male artists—and an economic rationality. In this talk, Charlotte Kent presents the problems and possibilities inherent in this emergent technology and suggests a material culture approach to the study of blockchain-based contemporary art. Bard Graduate Center (BGC) PhD candidate Michael Assis introduces Kent, explains how blockchain technologies have been utilized in artistic production, and places blockchain-based artistic practices in the greater history of art and material culture.
Charlotte Kent, PhD, is associate professor of visual culture at Montclair State University. She is an arts writer whose research contextualizes contemporary art, digital culture, and the absurd while addressing the theoretical implications of their current productions. Contributing to numerous arts and culture magazines and academic journals, she is also an editor at large for the Brooklyn Rail and co-editor with Katherine Guinness of Contemporary Absurdities, Existential Crises, and Visual Art (forthcoming, Intellect Books). She is a graduate of the CUNY Graduate Center, St. John’s College, Phillips Academy Andover, and the Writer’s Institute.
Michael Assis is a doctoral candidate at BGC. He specializes in the philosophy and theory of digital art and (new) media and is currently writing a dissertation on blockchain-based art. His research lies at the intersection of digital art history and material culture, science and technology studies, and media studies. Before entering the metaverse, Michael specialized in European medieval and Renaissance art, and holds a BA and MA in art history and philosophy from Tel Aviv University. Beyond academia, Michael is also the co-founder of Artfora, a Web3 platform that pairs physical objects with non-fungible tokens.
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Stay home if you feel sick
Please do not visit BGC Gallery if you have a fever or any COVID-19 symptoms, have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 14 days, or have had close contact with anyone who is confirmed to have or suspected of having COVID-19.
Vaccination required
Bard Graduate Center requires up-to-date vaccination against COVID-19 as defined by the Centers for Disease Control.
Social distancing is encouraged
We recommend keeping at least six feet from others not in your party when possible.
Follow signs and directions from BGC staff members
Follow the guidance of BGC staff, who are monitoring visitor traffic throughout the building. They are there to help keep everyone safe and comfortable. Visitors who do not follow posted instructions from our staff will be asked to leave.
Risk of exposure
An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public space where people are present. By visiting BGC Gallery, you acknowledge and voluntarily assume all risk to any potential exposure to COVID-19.
