FICC Focus All Options Considered: Volatility of NFT Art - View from Christie's
Sep 19, 2025
Nicole Sales Giles, Director of Digital Art at Christie's, dives into the colorful yet tumultuous world of NFTs. She reflects on the groundbreaking Beeple sale and how Christie's adapted to the digital art revolution. The conversation explores the volatile nature of the NFT market and the intriguing role of AI as a creative partner. Nicole shares her insights on future trends and highlights up-and-coming digital artists worth watching, offering a glimpse into the evolving landscape of art for a new generation.
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How Beeple Shook Christie's
- Nicole Sales Giles recounts how Christie's learned about NFTs and put Beeple's work in an experimental online sale with no reserve.
- The lot soared from a $100 starting bid to $69 million, forcing new compliance and crypto procedures at Christie's.
Auction Houses As Gatekeepers
- Christie's positioned itself as a legitimizing force, educating artists and collectors in the digital art space.
- The house integrated digital works into traditional sales and launched on-chain auctions to meet market demand.
Evaluate Digital Art Like Traditional Art
- Evaluate digital works by the same curatorial standards as physical art, focusing on artist history and market context.
- The medium (NFT or painting) should not change core art-market valuation criteria.