human after all

Mitchell F. Chan argues that the Art Blocks Marfa Weekend, a generative art festival in Marfa, Texas, has changed from its first edition in 2021, when crypto enthusiasts seemed out of step with the local art world, into a gathering that embraces physical objects, more women, and a wider range of interests. He cites the 2024 edition's 550 visitors, up from roughly 200 attendees in 2021, and a shift toward physical artworks, including the first physical pieces in the platform's curated releases. He also notes that artists launched on Art Blocks now appear in major museums, and that the Whitney recently appointed NFT collector Benny Gross to its digital art acquisition committee. Chan presents this as a slow change rather than a simple response to the market's cooling.