Curating Tomorrow: Verse’s Vision for the Future of Contemporary Art
We are excited to announce that Fakewhale will be one of the selected galleries active in the Verse ecosystem starting in December 2024. To mark this milestone, we sat down with Leyla Fakhr, Artistic Director at Verse, to explore the platform’s evolution, its new gallery-collaborative initiatives, artist focused approach and vision for the future of digital art.
Contemporary art is evolving, and while the traditional art world may not always be ready for these changes, Verse is committed to supporting artists who are redefining boundaries, with a vision that ultimately seeks to bring their work the recognition it deserves on a global stage.
Verse is entering an exciting new phase, marked by several new initiatives aimed at enhancing the platform’s role in the digital art world. One of the key initiatives is the introduction of a curatorial board, which will play a vital role in selecting the galleries featured on the platform. This board includes notable figures such as Katrina Schwarz, curator at the Whitechapel, Kenny Schachter, artist and writer, and @sssluke, artistic director of Grailers DAO. Their expertise will help shape the future of the platform by ensuring that only the most groundbreaking galleries are showcased.
While gallery collaborations remain a key focus for Verse, the platform has expanded its offerings with the introduction of Artist Rooms. This new initiative allows a select group of artists to release their work on Verse at any time and in any volume they choose, if that is their preference. It offers artists greater creative freedom, enabling them to work independently and adopt a more flexible, autonomous approach to their practice.
Another major development is Verse’s evolution into a more comprehensive marketplace for digital art, with a focus on providing greater context and accessibility for collectors. This includes the future integration of the Tezos blockchain to bring key series of works by artists all into one place, offering a more unified experience for exploring both primary and secondary digital art.
Verse aims to provide collectors with the tools they need to engage with digital art in a deeper and more meaningful way, distinguishing itself from other platforms that may lack this level of contextual depth.
In this interview, Leyla Fakhr shares insights into Verse’s direction, the evolving role of galleries in the digital art ecosystem, and how Verse is continuing to establish itself as a leading platform for both emerging and established digital artists.
Leyla Fakhr in Conversation with Fakewhale
Fakewhale: Verse’s platform is about to enter a new era. Could you share more about the new features and advancements that mark the platform’s next shift in its new direction?
Leyla: It’s true that Verse is entering a new era, but I like to think of it as Verse coming into its own. We’ve always been dedicated to gallery releases, though it took some time to fully establish that direction. Along the way, we explored various releases and exhibitions but have now separated our in-house gallery program, SOLOS, from the platform to keep it more distinguished. For independent releases, we have introduced Artist Rooms, which we hope will appeal to artists who prefer to work outside the gallery structure entirely.
Our new emphasis is on making it clear that we are a platform dedicated to galleries that work with the most impressive digital artists. Galleries, whether traditional or not, heavily rely on digital marketing to succeed—everything is happening online. We hope to be a platform with the right technology and advice to help them grow and sell digitally. Developing this kind of tech is expensive and challenging, and we aim to take that burden off galleries, making the process as easy as possible. We’re particularly focused on both emerging galleries with new ideas and visions, as well as established galleries that are new to the digital space.
We do think it is important to keep the selection of galleries quite tight. And in order to determine who these galleries are, we have introduced a curatorial panel, which includes figures like Katrina Schwarz— curator at the Whitechapel—, Kenny Schachter—artist and writer—and @sssluke, artistic director of Grailers DAO. This board will meet quarterly, not only to select galleries but also to discuss the future of digital art within the wider narratives of contemporary art. I am so excited to have these discussions with our board as I hope it will help us better understand how to grow the digital art space. Ultimately, the curators and galleries of today will play a crucial role in shaping the future of art.
The bigger news, however, is that Verse is evolving into a go-to marketplace for digital art. Having been in the industry for some time, we’ve seen how difficult it is to get a complete overview of artists’ practice. Our focus will be on artists rather than collections, and for this reason, we are working on integrating Tezos to bring key series of works by artists all into one place. We also aim to provide more contextual understanding around the works, something that seems to be missing from secondary marketplaces like Opensea. Overall, by the end of spring 2025, we hope to offer a much better experience for exploring digital art, both primary and secondary.
Fakewhale: The “Galleries” feature is set to become a central feature of the Verse platform. What importance do you place on establishing a strong gallery network, and what specific qualities do you seek in a gallery partnerships?
Leyla: While there has been a lot of discussion about the negatives of gatekeeping, it’s clear that galleries play an integral role in building a healthy ecosystem within the arts. Yes, artists can market and sell their own work, but galleries, at their best, provide credibility and help artists achieve steady growth. It’s difficult for an artist to manage all aspects of their career and still have the creative space they need to thrive.
Both the artist and the gallery are essential to sustainable growth. Galleries provide perspective, which is crucial for an artist’s development. They help contextualise the artist’s work, manage their output, and nurture relationships with collectors.
We are looking for galleries that are passionate about digital art and consistently bring high-quality work to the table. Strong communication is also key—not necessarily in an academic sense, but in being able to explain the work clearly and concisely. Finally, we are excited about galleries with long-term vision and the drive to make the most of the digital realm.
Fakewhale: Can you discuss the new tool developed for collectors to import and curate their collections within Verse? What enhancements does this tool offer in terms of curation?
Leyla: Our Verse Collect app is still in beta mode, but in the long run we would love to find a way for our collectors to display their digital art collection and curate them in their app. The idea is, of course, to be able to see the works all in one place. You will be able to section them off by different artists or themes.
We work with intangible artworks, so it’s crucial to have a space where these incredible acquisitions can come together. Think of it as a contemporary Wunderkammer—a place to appreciate your NFT collection without the need to jump between wallets. Serious collectors often remember precisely when they acquired their works, almost like a diary, and having everything in one easily navigable location feels quite special and essential.
But eventually we are hoping it will be a way for people to connect socially as well. We are a bit far off from having it finalized though but we will eventually get there.
Fakewhale: Considering the rapid rise and recent stabilization of the digital art market, what is your perspective on this historical moment, and what are your predictions for its future trajectory?
Leyla: I’m both hopeful and excited for the future of digital art. While we’ve made significant strides, there’s still work to be done in legitimizing digital art, particularly on the blockchain, within the broader context of contemporary art. My prediction is that this shift will happen slowly but steadily. The key is to focus on showcasing exceptional art that’s truly native to the digital medium.
It’s equally important to inspire enthusiasm for digital art. Our community is still relatively small, and unfortunately, we have to undo some of the damage caused by those who entered the space without a genuine appreciation for the art itself. By nurturing a passionate, art-focused community with a discerning eye, I believe we can continue to grow and evolve.
Fakewhale: Art has always reflected the times. From your perspective, how does Verse contribute to defining what art means in our current age of digital transformation?
Leyla: I hope that Verse plays a pivotal role in ensuring digital art is taken as seriously as traditional art. We’re not focused on flippers and traders; we’re here for the art itself. While we acknowledge the importance of a healthy market, our primary focus is on the art and its intrinsic value.
We believe the traditional white-cube gallery model is no longer the only way to engage with art. Today, discussions happen on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok—social media is where people discover, discuss, and learn about art. Our goal is to create a marketplace that not only supports the sale of digital art but also provides meaningful context around it. It’s a slow process, but we’re committed to making it happen.
Fakewhale: As Verse’s platform enters a new chapter, how do you plan to uphold your mission of making digital art accessible in a market that has seen significant maturation? Any up-and-coming initiatives you would like to spotlight in particular?
Leyla: We’re still at the beginning of this journey, and it’s a long road ahead, but what we’re doing is truly important and incredibly exciting. Digital art has never had such a unique opportunity to grow and evolve in so many dynamic ways. Our mission is to ensure that collecting and experiencing digital art is easy, exciting and stimulating.
This year, we’re partnering with various entities to bring more attention to digital art as a whole. Our goal is to reach beyond the Web3 community—not that they haven’t been supportive, but because we recognize the need to expand our network and attract broader interest. These initiatives will focus less on sales and more on spotlighting the art itself. There’s been too much emphasis on the financial aspects of our industry, and we’re eager to shift the conversation toward art and culture. We know that most cultural engagement happens online, and we want to continue fostering that in a meaningful way. It’s remarkable to see how all dimensions of culture are converging in one place—low and high art, popular and niche, mainstream and avant-garde, all mingling together. Truly exceptional times, and to quote Drake over Derrida: “What a time to be alive!”
fakewhale
Founded in 2021, Fakewhale advocates the digital art market's evolution. Viewing NFT technology as a container for art, and leveraging the expansive scope of digital culture, Fakewhale strives to shape a new ecosystem in which art and technology become the starting point, rather than the final destination.
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