Unlearn everything you’re bringing with you about art. Seriously. Rip it up, crumple that old knowledge, throw that dusty knowledge straight into the digital garbage can. The revolution is here and it’s being minted on the blockchain. The old guard—the stuffy galleries, the gatekeeping museums, the critics—they’re freaking out. Good. Let them. Their reign of terror is over.

We’re not merely referencing a change in the art economy, sweetheart. This is a full-blown cultural earthquake. A digital coup d'état. Think of it like this: remember Napster? It was a terrible free-for-all. It did take power out of the hands of the record labels and return it to the masses. NFTs are Napster, but for everything creative. What’s really important is that they’re giving artists back the power they’ve always deserved.

Gatekeepers? More Like Gate-Crashers

For too long, too many have been left out of the art world. It has operated more like a velvet-rope VIP lounge, granting access only to the “chosen few.” You had to schmooze, rub elbows, and kiss the right… donors to just get a shot at getting a toe in the door. Sound familiar? It's the same old story across industries.

NFTs? They’re a digital wrecking ball— an art loving wrecking ball— smashing through those gilded gates. Now, anyone with talent, a crypto wallet, and an internet connection can sell their art directly to collectors, bypassing the traditional gatekeepers entirely.

It’s artists of color, artists who are LGBTQ+, artists from developing countries—they’re the ones leading the charge. They’re just now selling to their audiences and creating these rich communities on secondary markets like OpenSea, Foundation, SuperRare marketplace. It's a beautiful thing.

We're talking about real democratization. Well, this isn’t only about profit (although, to be clear, that’s a wonderful benefit). It’s about giving everyone a fair chance, providing a platform for innovation, and enriching our cultural fabric with a wider array of perspectives. It's about saying, "Hey, art world, you don't get to decide who's worthy anymore. We do."

Royalties? More Like Loyalty Points

Let's talk money, shall we? Because let’s face it, artists gotta eat. The old system was a joke. Artists would sell their work for a pittance, then watch as it got resold for exorbitant prices, with none of that profit going back to the creator. It would be comparable to inventing the iPhone and only being paid for it on the day the invention was made. Absurd, right?

NFTs change all that. And with smart contracts, artists can bake in automatic royalties for every time their work gets resold, in perpetuity. 5%, 10%, whatever they choose. Imagine earning loyalty rewards each time someone likes your sculptures. This is huge. This is revolutionary. This is fair.

Now picture that same artist being able to do this full-time, because their work had finally made them a livelihood. They are released from dependence on the grant, patron and starving artist fantasies. Imagine all that financial security would allow you to do. When you don’t have the pressure of worrying about covering your rent, that’s when your creative juices can really start flowing! That's the power of NFT royalties.

Scams? More Like Learning Curves

Alright, let’s talk about the experience on the digital platform. Scams aside, NFTs are nearly all a colossal waste of money. There are legitimate environmental concerns about energy consumption with some proof of work blockchains. Proof-of-stake’s time is coming, and finding solutions to these problems. And sure, there’s bad actors attempting to make a quick buck selling JPEGs of monkeys for millions of dollars.

Every revolution has its growing pains. The internet indeed was a wild west, overflowing with scams and corruption and misinformation in its lawless early days. Did we throw it away? No. We stretched ourselves, we looked beyond ourselves, and we created a more equitable, accessible internet. We will do the same with NFTs.

The solution lies in being smart, being educated, looking further, and backing true artists and projects. Don't fall for the hype. Never put in more money than you are willing to lose entirely. And for the love of all that’s holy, don’t spend millions on a monkey JPEG.

Instead, focus on the real potential of NFTs: the empowerment of artists, the democratization of the art world, and the creation of new and exciting forms of creative expression. Think AI-generated art that evolves over time. Imagine playable NFTs that change based on what you do. Imagine “phygital” drops that fuse digital artwork with 3D prints. The possibilities are endless.

This isn't just a trend, baby. This is a cultural revolution. Get on board, or get left behind. And remember, art is for everyone. Now, ownership is too.