A new art exhibit of NFTs created by Colorado artists and collaborators opened this week at the Colorado State Capitol building in downtown Denver. The organizers say it is the first time a U.S. statehouse has hosted an all-NFT art exhibit.
Annie Phillips, founder , the local NFT gallery that curated the show, says it鈥檚 only natural that Colorado鈥檚 statehouse is an early adopter when it comes to NFT artwork.
鈥淏eyond any state in the United States, Colorado is really at the forefront of proactive support for blockchain technology,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hy we are the first state to do an NFT exhibit is that there has just been a lot of collaboration and support.鈥�
Phillips says the support for blockchain technology in Colorado comes from the top. 鈥淥ur governor is as a tech entrepreneur. There's also a at the state level.鈥� She also points to the . 鈥淚t's all powered by blockchain.鈥�
The theme of the exhibit is the Public Good. Phillips says that means 鈥渢he really good things that our tax dollars go to. Things like rec centers and libraries and transportation.鈥�
Phillips says NFTs are an interesting lens through which to explore the theme of public good, in spite of in the crypto space. She says the public good 鈥渋s a really powerful aspect of the philanthropic, humanitarian, altruism that's happening in in the crypto space. There's a lot of really incredible projects and communities and efforts being made to fund public goods.鈥�
The artwork is on display in the statehouse rotunda and in the offices of the governor and lieutenant governor. Phillips hopes the theme of the artwork will have a positive influence on state lawmakers that pass by.
鈥淚n January is when the [legislative] sessions start, those offices are going to be heavily utilized. And that artwork will be seen by all of the people working hard on policy and legislation,鈥� she said.
Visitors to the exhibit may be surprised to see some of the NFT art pieces on physical canvases. But Philips says the artwork lives on the blockchain and the physical canvas is almost besides the point. 鈥淲hen you buy the NFT [that鈥檚] the verifiable ownership of that image. Basically, the canvas is kind of just icing on the cake.鈥�
The State Capitol NFT Exhibition was curated by the and IRL Art. It will be on display at the through April 30. The rotunda portion of the exhibit is open to the public. Appointments are required to view the portions of the exhibit located in the offices of the governor and lieutenant governor.
