Renowned auction house Christie’s is dipping its toes into the weird wide world of Web3 yet again with another NFT-focused auction. Titled Cartography of the Soul, the curated selection — in partnership with collectors hub 1OF1 — aims to support the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), a non-profit organization dedicated to researching and promoting psychedelic therapies.
Presented by Christie’s 3.0 — Christie’s on-chain auction platform specifically designed for exceptional digital art — proceeds from Cartography of the Soul will be donated to further MAPS’ research and public education initiatives. This new venture, which opens at 6 p.m. ET on June 21, follows the 2022 initiative, Cartography of the Mind, which saw the landmark sales of pieces from NFT100 honorees Sam Spratt, IX Shells, Beeple, and others.
More than 30 new digital artworks will be showcased in this iteration, with Spratt and Ix Shells making a return alongside other leading Web3 artists, including DeeKay Kwon, Killer Acid, Klara Vollstaedt, Summer Wagner, Justin Aversano, Mad Dog Jones, and Nadya Tolokonnikova (Pussy Riot).
The auction has a combined estimate of around 234 – 333 ETH, offering a range of price points and aesthetics to potential buyers and ensuring accessibility for all art enthusiasts. Nicole Sales Giles and Lydia Chen, representing Christie’s Digital Art Department, expressed their enthusiasm for the partnership with 1OF1 and MAPS. They highlighted the success of their previous collaboration and the overwhelming support received from collectors.
“Last June, we had the honor of working with 1OF1 to put together a curated sale of digital art to benefit MAPS, and we were thrilled with the results. Not only were collectors rushing to bid on quality digital artworks, but there was overwhelming support for the charitable component of the sale,” said Sales Giles and Chen in a press release.
Coinciding with the Psychedelic Science 2023 conference, Cartography of the Soul will be exhibited in Denver, Colorado, from June 21 to 23. Select highlights from the auction will also be on display at Christie’s New York from June 23 to 27, allowing art enthusiasts and collectors to appreciate the digital artworks in person.
The Cartography of the Soul auction not only provides an opportunity for collectors to acquire remarkable digital artworks but also supports MAPS’s work in advancing psychedelic therapies. With its fusion of art, technology, and philanthropy, this auction exemplifies the ever-evolving landscape of the art market in the digital age.
Editor’s note: This article was written by an nft now staff member in collaboration with OpenAI’s GPT-4.
