NFT art has become one of the biggest niches of the blockchain industry at large. One individual has been crucial to its rise – and to this day, is still considered to be the #1 NFT artist in the world. That artist is Beeple.
Beeple arguably kick-started the NFT boom of 2021 – and ever since, he has continued to create daily art, hold major industry events, and held his head high as the standard-bearer for the NFT industry at large. Thanks to his tireless work, NFTs have rightfully established their place in the art world, causing seismic shifts in how we perceive, value and appreciate art.
He has become one of the most notorious artists in both the non-fungible and traditional art world – but what makes Beeple’s creations unique, how did he rise to prominence, and what could lie ahead in his future?
Here’s our complete guide to Beeple, the #1 NFT artist in the world.
Key Insights
Real name Mike WinkelmannBegan his daily Everydays art series on May 1, 2007Sold Everydays: The First 5000 Days for $69.4 million USD in March 2021Opened exhibition and event space Beeple Studios in March 2023Widely considered to be the #1 NFT artist in the world
Who is Beeple?
Beeple, real name Mike Winkelmann, was born in 1981 in Wisconsin.
He started his career in the early 2000s as a graphic designer, with a keen interest in digital art. In these formative years, he would develop distinct inspirations and a style that would go on to define his future work.
In 2007, he began the Everydays project – a commitment to creating and sharing a new piece of digital art every single day. Beeple did this to maintain a commitment to developing his art skills, building his body of work, and raising his profile as an artist.
Beeple’s art often blends dystopian themes with satirical commentary on politics, technology, and pop culture. By adopting a straightforward and non-apologetic approach to incorporating familiar figures and contemporary issues in his work, Beeple’s works have had far-reaching appeal – keeping a firm finger on the cultural zeitgeist over time and prompting viewers to reflect on the world around them.
The history of Beeple
Through Everydays, Beeple built a significant online following. This would serve to raise his profile – and inevitably pave the way to his future success.
In 2019, Beeple collaboration with luxury fashion label Louis Vuitton, integration his works into their 2019 Spring/Summer collection. This would be one of the first times in which a luxury label would collaborate with an artist more commonly known for digital art – a trend that would soon explode in popularity as the 2020s rolled around.
Beeple held his NFT debut in October 2020 – becoming one of the most prominent artists to explore the medium at the time – and immediately made his mark. Crossroad, a piece that would change depending on the outcome of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, initially sold for $66,666 – one of the highest fees paid for an NFT artwork at the time. In February 2021, Crossroad would be resold for $6.6 million USD – just a month before his most notable moment.
March 2021 saw a collage of his first 5,000 Everydays artworks – titled Everydays: The First 5000 Days – minted as an NFT to be sold at auction via Christie’s. The piece blew all estimates out of the water, and would go on to fetch $69.4 million USD. This was one of the highest prices ever made for work by a living artist, and instantly made Beeple one of the wealthiest artists in the world – not to mention marking a huge moment in the history of digital art and Web3.
In November 2021, Beeple followed up his landmark Christie’s auction with the auction of HUMAN ONE, a unique 7-foot tall sculpture. Bridging both the physical and digital realms, the piece is also designed to evolve over time, showcasing the additional dimensions that digital art can bring to the traditional art world. The piece fetched $29 million USD at auction, bringing Beeple’s earnings for the year to well over $100 million USD.
Although his high-profile auctions that attracted mainstream attention have since waned in recent years, Beeple has attained a cult-like following in the Web3 industry. He remains a major figure in the industry, featuring in exhibitions, panels and events around the world, and remaining as committed as ever to his daily Everydays works, having recently passed the 17-year mark.
What’s next for Beeple?
Beeple’s status as the world’s most prominent NFT artist is firm – and he shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.
In March 2023, Beeple opened Beeple Studios – a 50,000 sq ft space in Charleston, North Carolina that serves as a base for his work, events and activities. The space includes offices, lab spaces, collaboration areas, and plentiful room for digital art exhibitions and expansive live events.
Following its grand opening, Beeple Studios has held a number of unique and experimental events for the Web3 and digital art communities – and for the general public. Notable examples include PepeFest 2024 – a celebration of the popular internet meme – and his 2024 U.S. election night watch party – which featured a live Everydays, DJ sets, attendee contests and more.
These events – and Beeple’s continued efforts – highlight the status of Beeple and his projects as cornerstones of Web3 culture – a status that is likely to continue well into the future.
Beeple’s success has had a profound impact on the world of digital art.
With his record-breaking sales, Beeple has done more than any other artist to legitimise digital art in the eyes of collectors, institutions, and the general public. His work challenges conventional ideas of art ownership and value, and creates important debate on the role of technology in creative expression.
Through his collaborations with fashion houses, influencers and mainstream brands, Beeple has demonstrated the appeal and potential of digital art – and has no doubt inspired countless artists to explore the digital art and NFT art mediums.
It has been over 17 years since Beeple began his Everydays series, and as NFT art appears to be rising once more, 2025 could present a return to prominence for who is – without a shadow of a doubt – the biggest artist in the NFT industry.
