Christie's Digital Art Auction Raises Over $50K for UNHCR

Christie’s recently conducted a charity auction to benefit the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), featuring 11 unique digital artworks sold as NFTs. The event, titled "Bridging Worlds: Digital Art Beyond Borders," took place from October 23 to October 30, 2024, and successfully raised a total of $51,387.

The auction was curated by Micol Ap and included contributions from renowned digital artists such as Erick Calderon (Snowfro), IX Shells, Mario Klingemann, and Niceaunties. The initiative aimed to highlight the unifying potential of digital art across different cultures and artistic expressions.

Auction Highlights and Notable Pieces

Among the artworks, the highest bid was for "Niceburg" by Singaporean artist Niceaunties, which sold for 4.5 ETH (approximately $11,908). This piece features an AI-generated video depicting elderly women in a melting arctic landscape, accompanied by a narrative and whimsical visuals.

Another significant artwork was "Rompeolas — Resurgiendo a través de la Resistencia" by IX Shells, which translates to "Sea Wall — Resurgence Through Resistance." This piece sold for 3 ETH (around $7,850) and showcases animated dots forming a dynamic 3D wave.

Additionally, Andreas Gysin's "Crush," a piece featuring synchronized coding visuals, sold for 0.25 ETH (about $654). Other notable contributions included static digital art pieces like Vinnie Hager’s "Handle With Care" and Iskra Velitchkova’s "APT 47B."

Partnership and Support for UNHCR

Christie’s collaborated with the Switzerland for UNHCR innovation unit, the national partner for the UN Refugee Agency in Switzerland. This partnership was pivotal in promoting the auction and encouraging bids for the digital artworks.

The auction not only raised funds for a noble cause but also illustrated the transformative impact of digital art in bridging cultural gaps and fostering global unity.