The Truth About NFTs with Arabella Proffer

Location: In-person at the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve

1834 East 123rd Street, Cleveland OH 44102

NFTs have been getting a lot of attention as of late. Between the promotional antics of politicians and the volatility of cryptocurrency, there’s been a tidal wave of misinformation. But just what is an NFT? And how can creators use the technology to open doors in the fast-paced world of digital art?

On Saturday, March 4^th, join the Artists Archives for The Truth About NFTs with Arabella Proffer, a program which not only explains what NFTs are, but also explores their impact on the artworld and provides a beginner’s guide for would-be creators.   

Held in an accessible, conversational tone, the program will cover the fundamentals of NFTs as well as their exciting possibilities. As Proffer describes, “The crypto art world sounds complex, but I am here to tell you, most of it is just fancy-sounding terms for commands you already know! You aren’t just buying an image – NFTs are a way for people to confirm ownership, provide community access and invest in creators.”

For Proffer, NFTs also provide a way for her work to continue beyond her lifetime. She shares, “My future is precarious having terminal cancer, and after all of my paintings sold, I was left with no inventory. While I have an organization that will take care and keep whatever works of mine are donated, the Artists Archives, there was no way of taking care of my digital legacy…. But what if my art can live on and get new collectors after I am gone? This is my main interest in pursuing NFTs. I’m excited people will be able to collect long sold-out inventory and pieces in a different way.”

The Truth About NFTs with Arabella Proffer will be held in-person at the Artists Archives, and will conclude with an audience Q&A. 

Need special accommodations? We’re happy to help! Email info@artistsarchives.org to plan your visit or call 216-721-9020 for assistance. We’re looking forward to seeing you!

About Arabella Proffer: Arabella Proffer is an artist, author, and co-founder of the indie label Elephant Stone Records. Her work combines interests in portraiture, visionary art, the history of medicine, and biomorphic abstraction. She delves into her practice of oil painting tying together its relationships to biology, nature, and emerging sciences. She attended Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA before receiving her BFA from California Institute of the Arts where she studied under artists such as John Mandel, Derek Boshier, Jim Shaw, and Suzan Pitt. Arabella’s work is in over 60 private collections, and she participates in solo and group exhibitions throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia. She has authored several art books including, The National Portrait Gallery of Kessa: The Art of Arabella Proffer (2011) Gurls (2016-17) and The Restrooms of Cleveland (2019) . She was awarded an Ohio Arts Council grant in 2016, Akron Soul Train Fellowship in 2019, a Rauschenberg Foundation award, and a Satellite Award from the Andy Warhol Foundation and SPACES in 2020. Arabella has been recognized by both the Ohio House and Senate for Exemplary Attainment in the arts. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Plain Dealer, The Portland Review, Hi-Fructose, Juxtapoz, The Harvard Gazette, Scene, Snob, SF Weekly, Dallas Arts Review, Pittsburgh City Paper, Westfälische Nachrichten, Hektoen International Medical Journal, Creative Minds in Medicine, and more. Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and bred in Southern California, she and her husband live on the shores of Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio. Arabella became an Archived Artist at the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve (Cleveland, OH) in 2019.